VILLA BOAS SAYS HE HAS THE BACKING OF THE BOARD

Andre villas-boas insists that he
retains the full backing of the
Tottenham board and players despite the club's recent dip in form.

Newspaper reports claimed Villas-Boas was on the brink of being sacked following Sunday's 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City.

After a flurry of bets, one bookmaker made Villas-Boas odds-on favourite to become the next top-flight manager to lose his job, but the Portuguese is adamant his position is secure. The former Chelsea manager, who spent
almost £110m in the summer, admits the Spurs board aired their misgivings about the defeat at the Etihad Stadium to him in a meeting after the game.

However, Villas-Boas bristled at
suggestions he was on the verge of the sack at a tense press conference ahead of Thursday's Europa clash with Tromso 200
miles inside the Arctic Circle.
"I have the confidence of the board. I have the confidence of my players and I have to move on to do a proper job," he said.
"The only conversation (the board and I) had recently was two or three days ago.
"The board is of the same opinion that everything went wrong and we hope to get some response in the future.
"It was an ordinary meeting. We only spoke very briefly about the game."

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has not come out to publicly back Villas-Boas, and the Portuguese coach does not want him to either.
"No. No. That's not his style, and neither do I ask for things like that," said Villas- Boas, who says he has become used to rumours and gossip since moving to England for his ill-fated spell with Chelsea.

"I am immune (to criticism) right now," he added. "I used to read a lot into situations like this, into pressure points when I was at Chelsea, but not anymore. I am very indifferent.

"There is only one (area) that I come under pressure from, which is the press."