( CNN ) -- Chelsea sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas Sunday , citing poor results which threaten their participation in next season 's Champions League . His final match proved to be Saturday 's 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion which left the Blues languishing in fifth place in the English Premier League . Assistant coach and former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo will take temporary charge until the end of the season . A statement on the west London club 's official website confirmed the departure of Villas-Boas , less than a year after taking over from Carlo Ancelotti . Blog : Abramovich was right sack AVB . The 34-year-old Portuguese is the sixth manager to be sacked by Chelsea 's Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich . Since he took control only Guus Hiddink , who was an interim appointment , left of his own volition . Blog : Can English clubs catch their European rivals ? `` Andre Villas-Boas has parted company with Chelsea Football Club today , '' the statement read . `` The board would like to record our gratitude for his work and express our disappointment that the relationship has ended so early . `` Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season . `` The club is still competing in the latter stages of the Champions League and the FA Cup , as well as challenging for a top-four spot in the Premier League , and we aim to remain as competitive as possible on all fronts . `` With that in mind we felt our only option was to make a change at this time . `` With immediate effect Roberto Di Matteo has been appointed first team coach on an interim basis until the end of the season . '' The decision to install Di Matteo ends speculation that former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was to be given the job on a temporary basis . Di Matteo faces a testing few weeks , with Chelsea hoping to overhaul a 3-1 first leg deficit to Napoli in their last 16 Champions League tie , an away trip to Birmingham in an FA Cup replay , while trying to improve their league position . Villas-Boas came to Chelsea with a big reputation after guiding Porto to the Europa League title and comparisons were made between him and compatriot Jose Mourinho , who enjoyed such success at the club . But results have been indifferent and his relationship with senior players such as Frank Lampard has come under the spotlight .
Chelsea sack manager Andre Villas - Boas . Villas - Torres was in charge at Stamford Bridge for less than a month . Sixth manager to be shown the door by Roman Beck . Roberto Di Matteo takes over until the end of the season .