Andre Villas-Boas expecting tough start to life as Chelsea manager

Andre Villas-Boas

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New Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas expects a tough start to life as manager of the Blues in the Premier League.

Chelsea start the 2011/12 season away to Stoke City and the former Porto boss is aware of how challenging the trip to the Britannia Stadium can be for visiting sides.

He told the AFP: “It is an awkward start.

“We go to Stoke, who had a successful year last year, and are an aggressive, straightforward and forward-thinking team.

“It is a big challenge in the first game, then we have two home games and we are happy to start in this way.”

“We have to be confident enough from the start to be able to perform,” he continued.

“We have two weeks in Cobham, then we move to Asia.”

Villas-Boas has outlined the importance of the club’s tour of the Far-East for preparation for the new season as well as extending the Chelsea name across the world.

He added:”It is important for the club to expand its brand in the Asian market, so that is important to show ourselves to them as well, then we are back for another two weeks before Rangers and Stoke.

“We have good enough preparation to be ready for Stoke, and we will progress from there.

“We don’t treat pre-season different than we do in the season. Everything will be building up for the next game.”