Big names put pressure on AVB

London: Although there are no signs of anxiety, Andre Villas-Boas will be confronted by a big name at every turn this weekend.

From Uefa president Michel Platini to Guus Hiddink and Edgar Davids, the progress of the Portuguese coach is being put to the test.

Platini is a guest of Chelsea's board for the game against Liverpool tomorrow, sitting in the directors' box to pass judgment on one of the biggest games in English football. Hiddink continues to haunt every Chelsea manager, always in the frame for a role back at the club and back on the market after being fired by Turkey this week. According to Villas-Boas he will not be part of ‘the structure' and neither will Davids after the former Ajax and Juventus midfielder observed his work at the training ground.

He said: "At the moment there are no vacancies at the club. Hiddink is a top manager, but a successful six months doesn't mean he would always be successful in a club of these dimensions."