Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas says club can't compete with Manchester City's spending power "It happened last year, after a double-winning side," he said of Carlo Ancelotti, sacked for a trophy-less season. I'd never resign. I'd never give up. It's not part of my education. To give credibility and durability to his "project," Villas-Boas needs results, starting against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. He must then survive a tricky trip to Birmingham City in the FA Cup, orchestrate a remarkable comeback against Napoli's cut-throat counter-attackers in the Champions League and secure a top-four finish. Villas-Boas argued that for all the praise heaped on pacesetters City and Manchester United, "one of those two teams is going to be extremely unsuccessful this season." He added: "United has a margin of doubt because it is an extremely successful team. City invested a lot of money and has access to the best players in the world. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - a little bit - are the teams underperforming this season but still have a small possibility of improving their positions. Football's inherent vicissitudes have affected Chelsea's fortunes - as they do all teams. "You have to respect this game is highly vulnerable to luck, madness and chaos," he said. Still relatively new to dugout life, Villas-Boas has had to deal with the unique politics of life at Chelsea. "It's one of the most difficult jobs in the world," he said. Take Daniel Sturridge. The England youngster wants to play through the middle but Villas-Boas is "not at all tempted." Take Frank Lampard. The Chelsea veteran and occasional bench-dweller has said there are issues with the coach. Villas-Boas replied that his relationship with Lampard was "good, excellent"," although he added: "We are not married to each other."" An air of incipient dissent, if not quite mutiny, lingers in the air at Chelsea. Villas-Boas bristled at the suggestion that he has not cleared the air with players. Why do you think I haven't? Who says I haven't? Frank explained his personal view of his relationship with the manager. He feels something is missing, but for me there is nothing missing. I have spoken to him. It's an unhappy dressing room because we are fifth. If we're first and 17 points ahead, it would be an extremely happy dressing room. Any problems would be put to one side. I don't see any problems in my relationships with the players."" Lampard? "Ask any player who doesn't play all the time if he has a good relationship with the manager," said Villas-Boas. I have to choose the best team for every game. It hasn't involved Frank a couple of times but that doesn't mean I have a problem with him. He's a legend. I hope, one day, to have the CV Frank has at this club, which is amazing in terms of trophies. That would mean my shadow lurking over other managers of this club."" The spectre haunting Villas-Boas is the unrequited love affair of some at the Bridge with Jose Mourinho. Villas-Boas smiled. The only place where Jose's shadow isn't lurking is Barcelona. It's everywhere else in the world. The most successful part of this club's history is related to Jose. He rounded on those in the media who focused solely on negatives "to portray the darkness"," also dismissing the idea of cliques, of a Portuguese-speaking schism with the rest of the dressing room. "I don't think so."" He knows many from his previous stint here under Mourinho. "I was friends with these players before - a couple of them are still my friends and always will be - but at the moment our relationship is a full professionalism."" Villas-Boas is working hard to shape the future, including possibly recruiting his old Porto attacker, Hulk. He fits the profile of the player we're looking to bring here next year: technical and tactical. We wouldn't pay £85 million. That's the release clause but those times are over."" He is also looking to improve the set-up behind the scenes, creating a structure involving everything from meeting all the players" needs to communicating the club's message better. This club is always trying to evolve. One of my tasks here was to move it to a more dynamic, functional structure, of the people surrounding the players and the manager, to a better "organigram.""" Villas-Boas is likeable, a hugely promising manager but needs to show more thought and dexterity in handling the house of agendas that is the Chelsea dressing room. He cannot even relax in his favourite manner, sating his need for speed. "Bikes and cars and everything with wheels is what moves me apart from football,"" he said before sighing: "The bikes I ride aren't legal in England!""