Some critics accused the 34-year-old of rushing Chelsea’s transformation from a side who defend deep and rely heavily on power and pace to one who mirror the style of European champions Barcelona, something long dreamed of by Abramovich.

Despite a run of five defeats in nine games, Villas-Boas has repeatedly insisted the Blues’ new cavalier philosophy would not be abandoned.

It duly was during Tuesday night’s Champions League win over Valencia, although Villas-Boas revealed that was down to events on the field rather than a deliberate ploy, rejecting the obvious implication Chelsea were not yet ready to fully implement his instructions.

Asked if he had changed too many things, too quickly, he said: “No, I don’t say that.”

Yet, whether by accident or by design, the spectacular success of Chelsea’s approach against Valencia has given Villas-Boas a dilemma ahead of another possible do-or-die game tomorrow.

The Portuguese has admitted his side must “find a way” to beat City, who are perfectly capable of holding onto the ball in the same way as Valencia.

Games between the Premier League top six have been nothing short of spectacular this season, but with Chelsea having lost all their encounters with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, a tighter affair might suit them tomorrow.

“We don’t know what is going to happen,” Villas-Boas said.

“We know last year it was a difficult, tight game, solved in the last minutes with a 2-0 win.”

Villas-Boas also faces arguably the most important selection decision of his reign – whether to recall Frank Lampard after dropping the midfielder in midweek.

Had David Luiz not been suspended, it may have been tempting for the Blues boss to name an unchanged XI for the first time since taking charge.

With wantaway Alex banished from the first-team squad, Branislav Ivanovic will almost certainly move from right-back to centre-half tomorrow, meaning a likely recall for Jose Bosingwa.

Bosingwa lost his place following a series of erratic displays and there is an argument that Oriol Romeu, Raul Meireles and Ramires would form a better defensive shield ahead of the full-back than a midfield that contains Lampard.

But Villas-Boas would only say of his selection: “We have to decide based on what we feel is best for the team in that precise moment.”

One player who will expect to keep his place is Didier Drogba, who has once again become the main man at Stamford Bridge, with Fernando Torres forced to make do with a place on the bench.

Villas-Boas said: “At the moment, Didier has had his run.

“Fernando has had his run in the past. It doesn’t mean that we don’t trust his abilities.

“By the way he’s training, he’s nearer to competing with Didier every time.

“I agree, it has been Didier’s run, a run that ended up with goals.

“But Fernando’s run before was with goals as well.

“They are very, very near each other and, again, it’s just for me to decide what’s best for the team.”

Victory for City would make them even stronger favourites for their first league title for 44 years, increasing the comparisons with the Chelsea side who ended a 50-year wait to be crowned champions when Villas-Boas was on Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff in 2005.

The Blues boss suggested City’s achievement would be even more impressive, saying: “You have to agree with me that in 2004, there weren’t seven teams competing for the title.

“Man City set an extreme standard of top, top performance.”

Meanwhile, Nicolas Anelka moved a step closer to joining Shanghai Shenhua today after the Chinese Super League club confirmed they had reached an agreement with the striker on what is reportedly a two or three-year contract.