Since the billionaire from Russia took control of the London club in 2003, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti have all left Stamford Bridge after failing to reach the Holy Grail.
Chelsea's latest quest for glory in the competition that Abramovich has spent hundreds of millions of pounds trying to win starts against Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
The only players still at the club who took part in Chelsea's first Champions League campaign when they reached the semi-final in 2003/04 are John Terry and Frank Lampard, and Lampard says past failures have only increased their desire to lift the trophy.
"Obviously it is something the owner wants," he told reporters.
"When you have had a lot of domestic success, it's not just the owner, but the whole club and the fans who want that extra step - to win in Europe.
"As a club, with what we have achieved in the last six or seven years, it's an obvious thing to say, the one thing that is missing from our cabinet is the Champions League.
"I wouldn't say that's the only reason the other managers have been sacked, but the pressure is cranked up regardless."
Chelsea have started the new season in good form under him and are undefeated with three wins and a draw from their opening four matches following Saturday's 2-1 victory at Sunderland.
Striker Didier Drogba will miss Tuesday's match following his head injury and subsequent concussion against Norwich City two weeks ago, and with out-of-form Fernando Torres relegated to the bench on Saturday, Villas-Boas could well start with the youthful Daniel Sturridge alongside Nicolas Anelka up front.
With new signings Juan Mata from Valencia and Raul Meireles from Liverpool strong additions to the squad, Chelsea look set to challenge until the later stages again and will be determined to improve on last season's quarter-final exit.
"It's very nice he's coming back," he said. "He's held in very high respect at this club."
The pressures on them are entirely different to those on Chelsea and Tuesday's match will be their first in the competition in seven years.
