Any ideas time could be bought under the Roman Abramovich regime were dispelled once and for all at the end of last season when the billionaire Russian dispensed with the services of Carlo Ancelotti.

No English club had ever sacked a double-winning manager but, despite several mitigating factors that led to the Italian overseeing a trophyless follow-up campaign, Abramovich did not hesitate.

No excuses, no second chances.

And Villas-Boas is acutely aware the same fate awaits him in May if he fails to deliver silverware at the first time of asking.

"What you expect from this club is to be successful straight away," he said at his official unveiling in June.

"I expect to be successful, to win straight away, on a weekly basis.

"There's no running away from that challenge. That's what I face. I'd be surprised to be kept on if I don't win."

It is an unflinchingly frank admission from a 33-year-old who was a virtual unknown 12 months ago but has since become the hottest young coach around.

And despite his tender years, Villas-Boas knows what it takes to achieve instant success, having helped do so at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho.

Then, last season, the former Stamford Bridge scout proved he could do it on his own, his remarkable record at Porto inevitably leading to comparisons with the self-styled 'Special One'.

That is something he has been repeatedly at pains to play down, having severed his ties completely with his former mentor.

"This is not a one-man show," said Villas-Boas, who cost Abramovich in the region of £13million to bring to Chelsea in what arguably represents the Russian's biggest managerial gamble to date.

"This is a question of creating empathy, motivation and raising ambitions in everybody - the players, the staff around me, all the people in this organisation.

"Maybe I should be called the 'Group One'. I want to group people together to be successful. That's my objective."

He may shun the tag but Villas-Boas cannot afford to be anything other than special if he is to survive longer than his three-year contract.

One trophy per season is only the minimum requirement from Abramovich, whose ultimate obsession lies with winning the Champions League - and doing so in style.

Those were expectations not even Mourinho could live up to but, again, a confident Villas-Boas is ready to meet the challenge head on.

"It's not just a question of winning, but winning with a certain flair," he said.

"Everyone likes attacking football. The Premier League is the most entertaining league in the world.

"Our philosophy is that it should be an entertaining game for the fans."

Transforming the way Chelsea play while maintaining their recent success could prove to be Villas-Boas' biggest headache.

The squad have been set in their ways to a certain extent for some time and the club's pre-season performances suggest there will be no quick fix.

At least one playmaker is required to kickstart the evolution - something the club appear to have acknowledged with their pursuit of Tottenham's Luka Modric.

The Croatian would also be the ideal signing to help ignite the Stamford Bridge career of Fernando Torres, who endured a nightmare start following his £50million move from Liverpool.

Villas-Boas showed at Porto that he can transform the fortunes of misfiring forwards and it is crucial he does so again.

For Chelsea cannot afford any passengers if they are to challenge on all fronts this season, with Villas-Boas knowing he must not take any trophy lightly - his job could depend on it.

Injuries and illnesses to key players were one of the triggers for a mid-term slump last season which ultimately cost them their Barclays Premier League title.

The likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba have repeatedly proven the doubters wrong in recent times but there are emerging signs their game-time may need to be more carefully managed in future.

But Villas-Boas is adamant none of his stars are past their sell-by date - or lacking in motivation - and the Portuguese will not be rushed into panic buys or sales.

Indeed, he has promised all of his current squad - some of whose days looked numbered at the end of last season - a fair crack of the whip.

"These are players who deserve this respect from me," he said. "We have plenty of time up to August 31 to make a decision.

"These players have won a lot but still have hunger for success."