Andre Villas-Boas: 5 Biggest Issues Facing Chelsea Manager in Champions League

Chelsea were held to a draw against Genk on Tuesday, a match which taught us plenty about a Chelsea side three days removed from a 5-3 loss to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Mainly, a trip to Belgium didn't do anything to cure the woes Chelsea have been facing for the better part of two weeks. They attacked well for most of the match, but they were only able to put the ball in the net once. They had multiple chances to put the game out of reach, but they failed to do so.

As a result, an opportunistic Genk side leveled, salvaging a point against Chelsea, who were the better side on the night.

A draw away is usually a nice return in Champions League play—the formula often goes along the lines of "win at home, and draw away, and you're through"—but not in this situation.

Chelsea needed to assert their dominance and get three points on Tuesday. Obviously, a draw doesn't hurt them too much, especially because they are still in a good position to advance.

However, this particular draw highlighted some of the major issues Chelsea must overcome to be successful in the Champions League.

Defense Is a Mess

Petr Cech, along with the rest of the defense, is not in form.

And that's an understatement.

Cech and company have only recorded four clean sheets this year, and only one of those has come since September (5-0 win over this same Genk side back on Oct. 19.) Obviously, with such an attack-oriented mindset—a staple of the just-begun Villas-Boas era—goals are going to be conceded.

Terrible marking was, once again, the poison for the Blues. As Genk brought the ball up the wing, Jelle Vossen wandered openly in the area before finishing from around the penalty spot.

Players should never have that much room to operate in the penalty area. Period.

The Chelsea defenders have a habit of ball-watching, and unless that is fixed, the Blues will continue to concede cheap goals.

Juan Mata Can Only Do so Much

Juan Mata, arrived from Valencia in the summer, has been the best player on Chelsea all season. He has created the most chances, he has scored great goals, and he has integrated seamlessly with his teammates.

Unfortunately, he is only one man.

Yes, Fernando Torres has played well, along with a handful of other players (Daniel Sturridge and Ramires to name a few), but no one has been as important to Chelsea's attack as Mata.

The young Spaniard completely understands Andre Villas-Boas' style, and he plays with an ease that is beautiful to watch.

Once again, though, he is only one man.

Until Chelsea are able to fill the roster with more skill players like Mata, it will be a struggle to score goals. Sometimes, it seems like some of the players are unable to play to his level, which is detrimental to the Blues' attack.

Until more players reach Mata's form, the Blues will continue to struggle.

Finishing Is an Issue

Despite all the negativity that surrounds Chelsea, they do create a lot of chances.

Players are flowing into the box and are having quality looks on goal. However, the finishing has left something to be desired.

Considering how many goals Chelsea are giving up, the Blues can't afford to have scoring come at a premium. Accordingly, they need to start putting the ball in the net when they have the opportunity. Scoring goals does so much good for the morale of the club that once that first one comes, the ensuing reaction is like gravity: all it takes is a little push—then the goals will come in bunches.

But the Blues don't have much time to waste. They are two matches away from the knockout stages. Assuming they advance, Chelsea will not be able to squander such good chances. The longer they are in the tournament, the more valuable each chance will become.

Either they start making the most of them, or the Blues will be on the outside looking in.

No One Knows What the "Best XI" Should Be

As the Champions League wears on, the best players on your team will start to playing longer minutes, and they will be asked to perform at a high level every single match.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, I don't think anyone knows who the starting XI should be. We can argue about this guy or that guy, but at the end of the day, no one truly knows the best combination.

Obviously, it's Andre Villas-Boas's first year, and it is tough to decide your best players in a few short months. However, that formula needs to be figured out soon. Until Chelsea start putting the best combination on the field, it will be impossible to figure out this team's potential.

And not much is worse than the unknown. Certain players are locked in the first team, but outside of that handful, who gives Chelsea the best chance to win? No one knows, and that's the problem.

Villas-Boas does still have some time to figure out this issue. That being said, he needs to figure it out quickly or Chelsea will be out of the Champions League quickly.

Mental Toughness Is Lacking

In order to win at a high level, you have to be both physically and mentally strong.

Chelsea have proven their quality, but they don't seem to have the swagger from two years ago. They don't dominate play with the same aggression, and they let one mistake turn into more. In a competition like the Champions League, that can't happen.

Chelsea need to forget the bad and focus on the good. In addition, they need to have confidence that they will be able to succeed against anyone. Away matches are tough, but they will most likely have to play somewhere with a looming stadium (Bernebeu, Camp Nou, Old Trafford, etc.) And they will have to secure a win or a draw.

If they continue to play at this poor level, those matches will be a waste of time. As of now, their form is nowhere close to where it needs to be. Obviously, there is time to fix that. Unfortunately, they seem to lack the confidence necessary to turn things completely around.

Andre Villas-Boas needs to prove himself as a leader. If he does so, then Chelsea will be able to find European glory this coming spring.