Chelsea return nothing special for Villas-Boas

Sacked last year after less than nine months in charge at Stamford Bridge before rebuilding his reputation at Tottenham Hotspur, Andre Villas-Boas said his return to Chelsea for the key Premier League clash on Wednesday was "not very special".

"It's a club that I have gone past," Villas-Boas told a news conference on Tuesday. "I have good and bad memories like everybody else, but it's a pity it didn't finish as I would have liked."

Villas-Boas was fired by Chelsea in March 2012 after a poor run of results amid reports of dressing room disharmony with his coaching methods.

Former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo took over from Villas-Boas and guided the side to an FA Cup final victory and then a memorable first Champions League triumph with a penalty shootout victory over Bayern Munich.

Villas-Boas, appointed Spurs manager in July, said he bore no grudge against his former side.

"I've told you in the past that, in a situation like we were in, normally it dictates for a manager to lose his job," he said.

"It's understandable and has happened in various clubs for the same reason with the same effect, which is immediate success afterwards.

"It's nothing new in football and is something that unfortunately works in moments of maximum difficulties.

"You either believe in what you're doing or don't believe. At that time the club had to make a decision that proved successful for them."

Villas-Boas' past and current clubs are embroiled, along with Arsenal, in a three-way battle for a top-four finish and a Champions League place.

Chelsea, on 68 points from 35 games, can effectively guarantee finishing in the top four if they beat Spurs, who are fifth on 65 points from 35 and have a far inferior goal difference. Fourth-placed Arsenal have 67 points from 36 games.

"It is still very, very open because of the remaining fixtures," said Villas-Boas.

"Obviously if Chelsea win they are in (third) which means one less spot available and we wouldn't be depending on ourselves to achieve (a top-four finish)."

Mousa Dembele and Aaron Lennon, both substituted in Tottenham's 1-0 victory at home to Southampton on Saturday because of niggles, are in the squad.

"Mousa and Aaron will be selected, whether or not they will be available is something we prefer to hold onto and let people know when we get there," said Villas-Boas.

"They had discomfort and tightness against Southampton and we decided not to risk them."

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Liverpool skipper Gerrard out for season

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is to have an operation on his left shoulder which will rule him out of the rest of the season.

The England skipper will also miss the national team's two friendlies against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on May 29 and Brazil on June 2.

Gerrard will go under the knife later this week and is expected to return in time for Liverpool's pre-season programme.

Gerrard, 33 later this month, has had his best season fitness-wise and his appearance in 220th Merseyside derby was his 36th consecutive Premier League start - equalling his previous longest run set between April 2006 and April 2007.

He has played with the shoulder injury for several months but after an early collision with Everton midfielder Leon Osman on Sunday he looked in obvious discomfort.

However, it did not prevent him completing 90 minutes - Gerrard has missed only 17 minutes of the league season after being forced off against Newcastle just over a week ago after feeling some pain in the shoulder - and putting in another impressive performance.

But with little to play for in their remaining two matches at Fulham and QPR Liverpool have decided it makes more sense for Gerrard to have an operation now to give him an additional couple of weeks' rehabilitation.

"Liverpool have confirmed Steven Gerrard will undergo surgery on a recurrent shoulder problem this week," said a statement from Liverpool.

"The captain's injury has progressively worsened in recent weeks and requires an operation to cure it.

"Gerrard will now miss the final two games of 2012-13, but he is expected to be fit for the start of pre-season training this summer."

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Benitez drops huge Mourinho to Chelsea hint

Rafael Benitez, one win away from sealing a top-four finish for Chelsea in the Premier League and one more from a European trophy, ruled out extending his stay at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, saying the identity of his successor was an open secret.

The Spaniard, still unpopular with a section of Chelsea's support from his days with Liverpool, has impressed as the club's interim manager and victory at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday would all but secure a place in at least the qualifying round for the Champions League.

"You know that next year another manager will be here and I think every one knows who will be here," Benitez said in a televised news conference, when asked if his success at the club could lead to a longer stay.

Self-proclaimed "Special One" Jose Mourinho is the hot favourite to return to Chelsea from Real Madrid, having won two Premier League titles for the club during his first stint in charge which ended in 2007.

"It's not my concern what will happen here next season, I'm just concentrating on doing my job," Benitez, who will lead the side against Portuguese club Benfica in the Europa League final in Amsterdam this month, said.

Interim manager since the sacking of Roberto di Matteo in November, Benitez said he would not be considering his next move until his Chelsea mission was complete.

"I'm just thinking about Tottenham now," he said. "

Chelsea will have Eden Hazard available after he missed Sunday's 1-0 win at Manchester United through injury.

Tottenham have not won a league game at Chelsea for 23 years and defeat would leave them six points behind Chelsea and two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with two games remaining.

"Both teams will want to win, it's a game we've been looking forward to and we'll certainly be going there to win," Tottenham defender Michael Dawson said.

"We'll have to earn it. We'll go there full of confidence and hopefully get the three points."

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