Andre Villas-Boas has claimed that his age prevents him from having a strong rule over his Chelsea players.

The Portuguese manager, who is just eight months older than Blues midfielder Frank Lampard, has revealed that at times he has to succumb to player power.

"Because of my age and my lack of a professional playing background, I could never be dictatorial," Sky Sports News quotes Villas-Boas as saying. "I therefore let the players have a certain amount of input into decisions regarding the way we play and how the team is run.

"Also, when we talk about the well-being of a group, I encourage the players to participate in the decisions affecting their professional life.

"You must build a two-way relationship, even over any decision-making about arrangements or actions in the game. Naturally, as the coach I make the final decisions though and if I have to upset a couple of people, then so be it."

The former Premier League champions are currently in a race for fourth place alongside Arsenal, Newcastle United and Liverpool.