No change to Chelsea philosophy ahead of crunch tie

The Portuguese refused to contemplate failure to beat the Spanish side at Stamford Bridge and the consequences for his fledgling managerial career if they don’t make it through to the last 16.

In a make-or-break week for three English sides in the Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City will vie to join Arsenal in the next phase.

Chelsea and United still have their destiny in their own hands, but City must rely on a favour from Villarreal to avoid dropping into the Europa League.

Villas-Boas has the comfort of a near-fully fit squad for their final Group E fixture, with Jose Bosingwa the only fresh absentee, and the 34-year-old said there would be no change to the club’s attacking philosophy.

“You’ve seen us play enough to know that we always take the initiative in a game,” he said.

“Valencia will want to get something because a goal represents a lot to them, and makes things even more difficult for us. But we will try and take the initiative again and won’t change our strategy.”

After throwing away winning positions in all three away games – against Valencia, Genk and Bayer Leverkusen – Villas-Boas said in the worst case scenario of elimination, there would be nobody else to blame.

“During this campaign of five games, we’ve done pretty well in terms of performances, but the small details have gone away from us in the last couple of minutes, at Valencia and Leverkusen,” he added.

“If that hadn’t happened, we would have been sitting here in a familiar position, like in the past, and, most likely, having qualified.”

Neither Alex or Nicholas Anelka trained with the team last night, having been banished from the first-team squad after submitting transfer requests with the January window approaching.

England starlet Daniel Sturridge is likely to partner Didier Drogba up front after both players scored in the 3-0 away win at Newcastle United on Saturday, a result which relieved the pressure on their manager after a run of five defeats in nine games.

Sturridge claimed there was no pressure on Villas-Boas, regardless of the result.

“It’s important for us to be behind the manager because he’s going to be here for the next three years. He’s stated that and I believe that also. I’m behind the manager and I think everyone else is too,” the 22-year-old said.

“The team is playing with confidence. Everyone’s happy and everyone’s playing very well. We’ve always had the confidence, not just with ourselves but with the manager also, and we’re very happy.”

Arsenal travel to Athens to face Olympiacos tonight safe in the knowledge that they will be playing Champions League football after Christmas.

Accordingly, manager Arsène Wenger is expected to blend youth and experience for his 200th European fixture, with 19-year-old Oguzhan Ozyakup, Craig Eastmond, 20, and Nico Yennaris, 18, named in the squad.

The experience will be provided by Tomas Rosicky, who returns from a thigh injury, Yossi Benayoun, Thomas Vermaelen and Andrey Arshavin.

Wenger said his selection will show respect for his opponents: “It is not who we left at home, it is who will play who is important. Before you make an early judgement, let’s wait to see how our team will do.

“We have a very strong team, many of the team have played in the first game against Olympiacos, so give the players who turn up some credit, they will produce a good performance.

“We are unbeaten and want to continue our run, and also to be respectful of everybody else in the group. We have a moral responsibility to play to win.”

United travel to Basel tomorrow knowing a win or draw will see them through to the knockout stages for a sixth successive season, though a first-place finish, which would enable them to avoid Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16, looks unlikely.

Benfica, who currently occupy top spot, would need to lose at home to Romanians Otelul Galati to allow United past them.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be without striker Javier Hernandez for the trip to Switzerland after the Mexican damaged ankle ligaments, ruling him out for about six weeks.

Danny Welbeck, who scored twice against Basel at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture, could replace him.

Manchester City’s destiny is out of their hands – they must beat Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium and hope Villarreal do them a favour by beating Napoli in Spain.

But despite their maiden Champions League campaign resting on a knife-edge, playmaker David Silva believes City can not only qualify but go on to win the competition.

“We need to improve upon what we’ve achieved already and keep progressing as a team,” said the Spain international.

“Of course, we’ve got to do well in the Champions League and, well, we should aim to win it. Why not? I don’t think that is out of the question.”