Jose Mourinho is facing a real crisis at Chelsea with a number of his players ready to jump ship in search of regular first team football.
There are so many chelski players rushing towards the Stamford Bridge exit these day’s that it’s a wonder none have been injured in the stampede.
With the bulk of his squad training in America yesterday, Mourinho’s most difficult task may be to keep them all together because a number of them seem keen on following the example of Damien Duff and getting out while the goings good.
Five first-team players have left Chelsea this summer and their shortage of numbers is so bad that two youth team players, Ryan Bertrand and Michael Woods, were training with their more illustrious colleagues yesterday, having had their names plucked from a hat before departure from Heathrow on Wednesday.
So it seems that Mourinho is using a lottery system to determine the pattern of his training sessions!
With Eidur Gudjohnsen, Asier Del Horno, Glen Johnson (loan), Carlton Cole and Duff having moved on, Wayne Bridge is the latest to develop itchy feet, using the impending arrival of Ashley Cole as an excuse for telling Mourinho that he wishes to leave.
Bridge changed his agent when he discovered that Jonathan Barnett and Cole had secretly met underhanded Chelsea in the infamous ‘tapping-up’ episode 18 months ago, so it comes as no surprise that the club’s renewed approach to his England rival should prove to be the final straw.
Having spent the second half of last season at Fulham, Bridge has been short of suitors this summer, but Newcastle United may come to his aid.
Chairman Freddy Shepherd has revealed his interest and if Bridge opts to move to the North East, the deal should be concluded swiftly, with Newcastle having no problems matching Chelsea’s £3million valuation or the player’s £40,000-a-week wages.
Newcastle are also monitoring Shaun Wright-Phillips’s situation after renewing their request to take him on loan for the season.
The club’s initial approach was dismissed in May, with Chelsea insisting he would be allowed to leave only if they were to recoup a significant proportion of the ridiculous £21m they paid Manchester City 12 months ago, but Mourinho may have changed his mind.
In talks with the player before leaving London, the manager told Wright-Phillips he would be given the rest of pre-season to prove that he possessed the ability and attitude to stay at Stamford Bridge, the sort of questions you would imagine he would have asked before forking our £21 million!
However, if he failed to do so, Mourinho would be open to offers, with City also interested in taking him back on loan.
It seem’s that Hernan Crespo is so desperate to getaway from the Bridge that he failed to board the club’s flight from Heathrow on Wednesday.
The club issued a statement yesterday saying that, as players aged over 30 who were involved in the World Cup, Crespo and Claude Makelele had been given an extended holiday, although as the Frenchman was not due to return for another week, this appears to be yet more lies from to club to cover their embarassment.
Crespo has made no secret of his desire to return to Italy and has successfully pursued similar tactics in the past, missing a breakfast meeting on Mourinho’s first day in charge two years ago and being loaned to AC Milan within a matter of days.
Inter Milan are his most likely destination this time, with Mourinho making it clear that the Argentine does not feature in his plans, although securing a transfer fee could prove more of a problem.
‘I have enough forwards, so Hernan stays behind,’ Mourinho said.
‘If the club receives the right offer for him then they will consider it, but if not he will return for training when we get back.’
Who will be the next rat to desert the sinking ship at chelski?
http://www.evening-herald.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=12&si=1662169
Share this article
