Defensive approach pays off as Chelsea pip Leverkusen for European top spot: Chelsea 3 Valencia 0

With the Blues in danger of crashing out of Europe’s premier club competition before Christmas for the first time, manager Villas-Boas abandoned the cavalier tactics that have been the hallmark of his reign in what was the club’s final Group E game against Valencia.

The counter-attacking approach paid off spectacularly as Chelsea emerged from the brink of elimination to top the group thanks to a brace from the outstanding Didier Drogba, a goal from Ramires and Bayer Leverkusen’s failure to win at Genk.

That meant the Blues avoided a last-16 clash with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, although they would gladly have taken that ahead of a game Villas-Boas had repeatedly billed as “life or death”.

Villas-Boas was relieved to finish top of the pool and claimed his under-pressure side had given everyone a “slap in the face”.

“In terms of the result I’m very happy,” the Portuguese said. “The players worked very hard for the win. Guess what? We finished top of the group against all odds.

“It was good to score straight away. Valencia started a bit uncomfortably and struggled a couple of times.

“Our strategy was always to keep our line of defence close to our goal.

“The Premiership games - in our last four games we have had three clean sheets so our defence isn’t that bad. I think the players have given everyone a slap in the face today.

“What matters is that Chelsea finished top of the group. We qualified in first and we eagerly await the draw to see how far we can go.”

The 34-year-old had refused to countenance the prospect of failure, something he was nevertheless adamant would not cost him his job.

Seemingly backed to the hilt by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, Villas-Boas flexed his muscles this week by banishing Nicolas Anelka and Alex from his first-team squad and he was ruthless again last night by axing Frank Lampard from his starting XI.

The fastest goal they had ever scored in the Champions League could hardly have been better timed as Drogba put them ahead inside three minutes. Daniel Sturridge picked out Juan Mata at the far post and the Spaniard squared to Drogba, who was given an age to fire left-footed beyond Diego Alves.

The sense of relief around Stamford Bridge was palpable but the mood quickly changed as Valencia, who still only needed one goal to knock Chelsea out, assumed complete control.

They twice went close to levelling inside the opening 10 minutes when Jordi Alba crashed a shot against the outside of the post and Petr Cech clawed David Albelda’s blockbuster away from the top corner.

Villas-Boas’s much-maligned defence was hardly looking secure but the pressure was suddenly relieved midway through the half when Valencia produced an absolute howler in their own rearguard.

Drogba’s pass looked too heavy for Ramires but the Brazilian brushed off the feeblest of challenges from Victor Ruiz before slotting underneath the stranded Alves.

The home side were now playing almost exclusively on the break, defending as deep as they ever had done under Villas-Boas, but they almost added a third when another surge saw Alves keep out Sturridge’s near-post finish.

Drogba made the game safe after being slid in by Mata and poking the ball past Alves with the outside of his right foot for his fourth goal in the last four games.

Arsenal ended their Champions League Group F campaign with a 3-1 defeat in Olympiacos – but the Greeks missed out on the knockout stages.

In-form Algeria striker Rafik Djebbour slotted home on 16 minutes after a loose ball was not cut out at the edge of the area, before substitute keeper Vito Mannone – on for the injured Lukasz Fabianski – made a hash of his clearance as David Fuster made it 2-0 at half-time.

Yossi Benayoun slotted home a consolation before Francois Modesto secured victory with a minute left but, with Marseille producing a late rally to win in Dortmund, it was not enough to see the Greeks through to the last 16.