Roman Abramovich's legendary impatience ensures Stamford Bridge's clock always ticks faster in times of trouble - and it is racing already for Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas after only 12 Premier League games.

Villas-Boas knew Chelsea owner Abramovich's special demands when he took the call to succeed Carlo Ancelotti, sacked at the foot of a flight of stairs at Everton only a year after winning the league and FA Cup Double.

The 34-year-old Portuguese was acquainted with them again on Sunday after a 2-1 loss to Liverpool, following on from a 5-3 reverse to Arsenal, meant Chelsea had suffered successive home defeats for the first time since Abramovich took control in 2003.

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Fabio Capello flies back to Italy to join his newly extended family accompanied by an impressive body of work in 2011 and quiet satisfaction that England are building momentum ahead of Euro 2012.

England followed up victory against World Cup holders Spain by securing a first win against Sweden since 1968 with their 2,000th goal to end the calendar year unbeaten with six wins from nine games.

Capello was stone-faced and unmoved when presented with this list of achievements, waving a hand dismissively and grunting: "Statistics."

Statistics indeed, but not bad ones for a team that looked at their lowest ebb after the embarrassment of a World Cup exit against youthful and vibrant Germany in Bloemfontein last year.

And while few can seriously suggest Europe's top teams live in fear at the prospect of facing England in Poland and Ukraine next summer, Capello can at least allow himself a measure of optimism.

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John Terry's meeting with the media started with a bouquet before barbed wire was placed around the elephant standing in the room with England's besieged captain.

Terry's opening act on his first public inquisition since the Metropolitan Police opened its investigation into allegations that he racially abused QPR's Anton Ferdinand in the recent west London derby was to present flowers to a departing member of the media corps.

Cynics could suggest the gesture was part of a charm offensive intended to draw the sting from the questions heading in Terry's direction, but the Football Association's sentiments were genuine as the captain smiled for the cameras along with coach Fabio Capello.

The FA's stance - and that of the players who have almost formed an orderly queue to support their captain since the squad assembled at their Hertfordshire hotel last week - was that it was "business as usual" despite the publicity accompanying Terry on his latest tour of international duty.

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