Former Chelsea and current Lille midfielder Joe Cole has backed Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas to succeed at Stamford Bridge.

Cole, who knew Villas-Boas when he was a part of former manager Jose Mourinho's backroom staff at Stamford Bridge, insists that the former Porto boss must be given time to prove himself in England.

"I knew him well," Cole told The Sun. "You didn't see him much because he was so good at his job.

"He's the right man for the job. He knows English football inside out. It's just it's a difficult time for the club because things have to change.

"He's proven he's the best young manager in Europe at the moment."

Cole, who joined Chelsea in 2003 from West Ham United, spent seven seasons at the club before leaving as a free agent in 2010.