TODAY'S NEWS

Villas-Boas shrugs off Jose threatFebruary 16, 2012 Email Print By ESPN staff Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has insisted he has no problems with Jose Mourinho being in regular dialogue with members of his squad. Porto president Pinto da Costa claimed this week that Villas-Boas was being undermined by Mourinho remaining close to key members of the squad he led to Premier League glory while at Stamford Bridge. Villas-Boas claims he remains in contact with players he became close to while at Academica and Porto and has dismissed suggestions Real Madrid boss Mourinho is undermining his work at Chelsea. "It is normal," Villas-Boas said. "I have emotional attachment to players at Academica and Porto. I text them and they text back, it is normal. I have no problem (with Mourinho texting)." Villas-Boas dismissed talk that he had a row with some of his players following the defeat to Everton, but did concede that he may not have the unequivocal support of the squad. "Not strong words," Villas-Boas said of the meeting on Sunday. "We had no row. There was a meeting of technical staff and players, there was nothing dramatic. Everyone knows we need more, the results have not been impressive, it is up to the players and the management to take responsibility." Villas-Boas is confident his own job was under no more threat this week than last. "I don't think so, but it's a question that you will have to ask the owner,'' added. "I think the owner has full trust in me and will continue to progress with the ideas that we have. "In the end, that is the objective of getting us the best position possible in the league, plus these two trophies, which we are fighting for. "It will be extremely good for us if we win against Birmingham to put ourselves in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. "But we need strong progression in the league and to show our strength, so we efficate a little bit more our contention for fourth place - as third is already 10 points ahead of us - so that we get Champions League qualification.''

Two former Rhode Island Stingrays campers played for the US Mens National Team this past week. Michael Parkhurst of FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark) and Geoff Cameron of Houston Dynamo both started in the US victories over Panama and Venezuela. Parkhurst at 5'11" played 180 minutes at central defender and Cameron, a 6'3" defender played 141 minutes. Every January, the US team holds camp for potential national team players. This gives the players a chance to impress the coaching staff while playing international matches in a friendly atmosphere. Under the direction of Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the US philosophy moving forward is to develop the ability to keep pace with the big nations. This means gaining confidence and playing with hunger and determination.