Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has the full backing of club owner Roman Abramovich. The Daily Mail says for the first time since Jose Mourinho swept in and changed the rules at Stamford Bridge, Abramovich is convinced a major team-building project is required.

Abramovich, according to those in his confidence, accepts his manager's argument that Chelsea's squad needs to be refreshed. More importantly, he believes Villas-Boas is the man to do it and will back him, despite three defeats in four Barclays Premier League games and the availability of Guus Hiddink.

Things can change abruptly when they depend upon the whim of one man and when qualification for the Champions League means so much. But, at the moment, Abramovich seems firmly behind the young coach he prised from Porto in the summer.