ARE JOSE MOURINHO TEXT MESSAGES UNDERMINING CHELSEA BOSS ANDRE VILLAS BOAS?

Yes, they are.

That’s according to Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, Andre Villas Boas’ former boss at the Portuguese club. He reckons that his old manager is struggling to impose his ideas at Stamford Bridge because senior members of the squad are still in regular contact with Jose Mourinho.

Pinto da Costa said: “He needs time to mould his team. He can’t do that as long as there are players, as I’ve heard, who exchange text messages with Mourinho.”

But he thinks Villas Boas will eventually come good. He added: “He will be successful withChelsea because his contract isn’t just for one year.

“The only thing that will topple Villas Boas is if he fails to qualify for the Champions League.”

Hedging his bets, the Porto chief also predicted that Villas Boas would become the next Inter Milan manager if Roman Abramovich does axe him.

Wenger wants perfect Henry send off as Arsenal take on AC Milan

Arsene Wenger says he’s hoping for the perfect send off for legendary striker Thierry Henry, as the club’s all-time leading scorer plays his final match of a brief loan period from MLS side New York Red Bulls.

The Gunners are in Milan to take on AC in the 1st leg of their Champions League Last 16 clash, hoping to maintain their perfect record at the ground under Wenger’s tutelage (5-1 v Inter in 2004 and 2-0 v AC in 2008).

The veteran manager is expecting an exciting tie between the two sides, as they look to take an advantage back to the Emirates in a fortnight’s time.