AVB rejects Ancelotti advice

Football

Didier Drogba: Has been linked with a move to Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua

Andre Villas-Boas has dismissed Carlo Ancelotti's claims Fernando Torres will only flourish if Chelsea offload Didier Drogba.

Ancelotti, who Villas-Boas succeeded as Blues boss last summer, suggested £50million man Torres had failed to shine at Stamford Bridge because Drogba "devours" all of his goalscoring rivals.New Paris St Germain manager Ancelotti insisted the only solution was to get rid of Drogba but Villas-Boas said: "For me, it's not the case.SharpLive on Sky SportsvsNorwich v ChelseaJanuary 21, 2012 12:30pm

"Fernando has been with us a year and is in a great moment of form and looking sharp."

Torres has indeed improved in recent weeks but that has coincided with Drogba's absence at the African Nations Cup.

"It's nothing to do with one being present and the other one not," Villas-Boas said. "In a club of our dimension, we have top competition.

"The people you compete with are as good or better than you and you have to compete to reach the starting XI.

"It's the same with Barcelona and Real Madrid. You compete with the best within the group."

If Torres has been intimidated by the presence of Drogba, the £50million man will not have to wait long to be rid of his rival.

Drogba is set to leave Stamford Bridge when his contract expires this summer after rejecting the offer of a one-year extension.

Negotiations

The 33-year-old, who had been holding out for a two-year deal, has exercised his right to talk to rival clubs this month by opening negotiations with Shanghai Shenhua, according to the Chinese side.

As they did with Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea have the option of cashing in this month rather than losing Drogba for free at the end of the season.

But Villas-Boas said: "It's not something that crossed my mind.

"I count on Didier, on what he represents as a player and an icon."