Football
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Premier League return unlikely after Zenit St Petersburg - Villas Boas

Zenit Saint Petersburg manager Andre Villas-Boas told reporters he does not predict a return to the Premier League, following his team's 1-0 round-of-16 Champions League defeat to Benfica.

Villas-Boas bemoaned his team's inability to get on the scoresheet, after Benfica's defence and goalkeeper Julio Cesar held the Russian Premier League club goalless in their first-leg meeting, but was still confident knowing that their opponents face a tough trip ahead of the second leg.

"We'll need to create more chances than today," Villas-Boas said on BT Sport. "We held on well. We weren't as good in the second half.

"At home we will attack and try to create opportunities, which we didn't manage to do today. We prevented Benfica creating chances with crosses from the wings, with the exception of the last one, which has given them the advantage.

"We have another two games before the second leg which will allow us to gain some more match fitness. It was a pity we conceded so close to the end. We wanted a 0-0 but the tie will be decided at our stadium.

"It is a hard venue for opposing teams, especially in front of our fans. It's a long trip for them, another time zone. This will create lots of problems for Benfica and we will try to turn the tie."

The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager, who is set to leave Zenit at the end of the season, was was also quick to dismiss the prospect of a return to England, following his previous experience there.

"No I think my time has been done there. It didn't go as well as I expected, apart from the first year at Tottenham, so I will look forward to trying other leagues,'' the Portuguese said.

Asked where he might go, he added: ''I don't know, hopefully something good.''

Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea in March 2012, less than 10 months into a three-year contract as the Blues struggled to finish in the top four.

He was appointed Tottenham manager that summer and guided Spurs to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, missing fourth spot, and a Champions League place, by just one point.

In December 2013, Villas-Boas left White Hart Lane shortly after a 6-0 defeat at Manchester City and a 5-0 home loss to Liverpool. When he departed the club, he held the highest percentage of league wins of any manager in the club's Premier League era.

Villas-Boas will have been Zenit manager for two years next month. He won the Russian Premier League in his first full season but his time at the club has turned sour and earlier this campaign he served a six-game ban for assaulting a match official.

Zenit, currently midway through a domestic winter break, coasted through their Champions League group this season with five wins from six matches but they are currently sixth in the Russian Premier League, seven points behind CSKA Moscow.

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