AVB: We don't need Euro escape

AVB: We don't need Euro escape

Published Oct. 30, 2011 3:15 p.m. ET

The Blues make the Champions League trip to Genk for their next Group E encounter on Tuesday night.. The last seven days have seen the Blues under siege, with Saturday's 5-3 Premier League defeat to Arsenal adding to their humiliating loss at QPR, three more red cards, the John Terry racism allegations, two - potentially three - Football Association fines and a supporter revolt over their stadium plans. The squad will fly to Belgium on Monday and away from much of the glare of the past week, although a Champions League game ensures they will still remain somewhat in the spotlight. But Villas-Boas denied suggestions a midweek getaway would do his side good amid the club's most turbulent period since he took charge this summer. "No, I don't think so, it's nothing to do with it," he said. But Villas-Boas did concede it was vital his side got back to winning ways following back-to-back Premier League defeats which saw them blow the chance to apply pressure to Manchester City at the top of the table. Beating Genk could see Chelsea qualify for the Champions League knockout stages with two Group E games to spare, providing Valencia do not defeat Bayer Leverkusen in the night's other match. A draw in the latter game could be the ideal result for Villas-Boas' men, who travel to Leverkusen in their penultimate match for what could be a group decider. "We can get in a very, very good position if we can win our game, of course waiting to see what happens in Valencia-Leverkusen," Villas-Boas added. "But we also have a chance of qualifying if Leverkusen win. "We have to find winning ways straight away in the next competition and then again, when we meet in the Premier League, find the winning ways." Winning the group has historically proven to be vital, with the last-16 draw seeded. This year it could prove a double-edged sword, with European champions Barcelona - the team everyone wants to avoid - currently second in Group H. Chelsea will not be concerned by that for now and will doubtless look forward to a game against a Genk side they hammered 5-0 at Stamford Bridge a week and a half ago, despite leaving out several senior players. Villas-Boas is likely to adopt a similar policy for the return match and may even consider leaving some of his stars at home. Captain John Terry was rested for the 5-0 win and might be given more time off as he continues to fight to clear his name amid allegations he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, something he has categorically denied. Villas-Boas might also consider giving a breather to Frank Lampard, while there could also be further outings for Oriol Romeu, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka, all of whom started against Genk. The biggest decision could revolve around Didier Drogba, who is the midst of a three-match domestic suspension following his red card at QPR on Sunday. If the striker does not feature on Tuesday, he will not be available again until the Liverpool game on November 20, meaning he would have missed almost a month of club action. Villas-Boas used the last Genk match to give Fernando Torres a run out in the midst of his own three-game ban and Drogba looks certain to feature at some point in Belgium.

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