AVB urges team to move on as he requests fan support

Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas has said it is time for his team to be self-critical but urged his players to “move on” following yet another painful home defeat to Liverpool.

The Blues are out of the Carling Cup after performing poorly against their rivals, who celebrated two wins in Stamford Bridge in the past nine days.

“It's a defeat that we all have to critical of and should not accept,” Villas-Boas told Sky Sports.

“In the first half, although we had plenty of possession and managed to get into the attacking third, we could not put the last pass and the last cross in their box to make it threatening. In the beginning of the second half, I think Liverpool were very aggressive, very strong, played good football and managed to get behind to score the first goal,” he described, adding he was planning changes in the team [Mata and Anelka] when Dalglish's men netted the second goal. 

However, he urged the team to “move on” from the knock-out of the Carling Cup.

“We have to move on forward. We now have to unite and look ahead to the challenges we have.”

Chelsea need their fans

The Portuguese manager admitted Chelsea's supporters are “anxious” but made an appeal to fans to get behind the team in order not to let the anxiety pass along to the players.

“Away from home we've been more solid statistically and as a team. At home we just haven't been good enough. We need to get our fans behind us and get the emotion right. You can feel Stamford Bridge is anxious.”

“We therefore need support. We need atmosphere to get us past this period.”

December is vital

With the Carling Cup out of option, Chelsea must turn tables to the Premier League, where they stand 10 points behind the leaders, and the Champions League, where they need a win to qualify. Villas-Boas admits the Blues mustn't fail in December as the last month of the calendar year will be crucial to the team's aspirations.

“For our Premier League to be alive we need to make the most of the December games and in the Champions League this standard won't be enough,” he said. “In this period we have games against Newcastle, Manchester City and Tottenham and if we are able to do that then we can get it back on track.”