Queens Park Rangers vs Chelsea FC preview - AVB always prepared for defeat

Posted Sunday, October 23, 2011 by PA

Andre Villas-Boas has admitted he is a "very negative person", despite the unprecedented success he has enjoyed since becoming a manager.

Villas-Boas has made a prodigious impact in the game in the past two years, emerging from the shadow of former mentor Jose Mourinho to transform the fortunes of Academica and win a remarkable quadruple with Porto before being headhunted by Chelsea this summer.

The past eight days have seen Villas-Boas celebrate three major milestones which highlight just how quickly his star has risen - the second anniversary of his first club job, his 34th birthday, and his 100th game as a manager.

But despite having won so much, so young, the Portuguese has revealed he lacks self-belief and is forever fretting about the prospect of defeat.

"I'm a very negative person," he said. "It's just a way of being. Everyone reacts differently to competition. That's the way I react.

"Before any competition, everyone is stressed in a different way. You have to think about all the perspectives: winning, losing or drawing. I think through them and the effect they'll have.

"'Normal' people think about winning. I don't go pessimistic, but I go through every one. I like to be ready. That's the way I am."

Defeat has been a rare experience for Villas-Boas, who went an incredible 17 months without losing a league game until last month's Barclays Premier League loss at Manchester United.

His start to life at Stamford Bridge has been otherwise largely blemish-free but it is no surprise that the United result is the first thing to come to mind when he considers the highs and lows of his first four months in charge.

"We wanted to win the Old Trafford game, which we didn't," said Villas-Boas, whose side have bounced back to cut the gap to the champions from five points to one in the past month.

Victory at QPR will see them leapfrog Sir Alex Ferguson's men into second place, providing United do not win the Manchester derby earlier that day.

"We want to continue to compete to try and overtake them as soon as possible," Villas-Boas said. "We have to get on with it. We just want to be top at the end of the season."

Ramires has failed to recover in time for the game. The midfielder is still missing with the knee injury picked up in Saturday's win over Everton but could be back for the Carling Cup tie against the same opponents next week.

John Terry, Didier Drogba and Juan Mata look set to return after being rested for Wednesday night's Champions League thrashing of Genk.

QPR manager Neil Warnock believes Andre Villas-Boas will go on to become Chelsea's version of Sir Alex Ferguson.

At 34 years old, Villas-Boas is comfortably the youngest manager in the Barclays Premier League, but he as already amassed a wealth of trophies during his time in football.

Villas-Boas looks set to continue his successful run at Chelsea. He has guided the London club to within touching distance of leaders Manchester City despite losing at second-placed Manchester United last month.

Chelsea have a history of firing managers who do not win trophies, but Warnock reckons that in Villas-Boas the Blues have a boss who will stay at the club long term like Ferguson - who has been in the Old Trafford hot seat for the last 25 years - has done.

"He is very articulate, a nice lad with a great sense of humour. He's got all the attributes really, and a great team," Warnock said.

"I think they've looked at the mistakes they've made over the years and thought 'let's go for somebody now'.

"I know people say he'll get the sack if they don't win the Premier League or Champions League, but I don't think he will.

"I think they've seen what Ferguson has done and seen what stability has done with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

"I think Chelsea need that and where better to get it than the best young manager in the world. He can be their version of Sir Alex.

"That stability is the only thing missing from Chelsea. They are going to have good players and he's shown he's not worried about reputations."

QPR defender Danny Gabbidon has still not recovered from a knee injury and will miss out. Adel Taarabt has been suffering from a mild virus but is likely to be fit.