Do the press ever give it a break? Not content with the stories around Drogba and Lampard, they go on to use Fergie’s recent comments to their own advantage. Sadly for them though, the verbal fisticuffs they’d hoped for didn’t materialise. But do they back off and find someone else to have a pop at? Of course not, they simply look for another stick to beat us with.

So, what have they come up with this time? Well, the latest little gem is ‘dressing-room unrest’ over the pre-season tour apparently. According to ‘a source’, before we’d even played the second game against Chengdu Blades, several senior players were complaining of jet-lag and exhaustion. They didn’t look too exhausted to me when they strode to a 7-0 win, but let’s go with the ‘source’ for a minute. The 15 day trip, designed to raise money for China’s earthquake victims, sees Chelsea travel to China, Malaysia and then on to Moscow for the four-team Railways Cup. This, according to the ‘source’ is said to be “the worst possible preparations for the season”, with the temperature adding to player’s displeasure. Well, it looked like they were enjoying it to me, but I suppose we could just humour the press and say what can you expect from a load of pensioners?

The press haven’t finished yet though, because just in case we did happen to take that little gem with a pinch of salt, they’ve got another one for us to worry about. You see, our old friends the ‘sources’ are keeping the media boys very busy this summer, particularly when it comes to the now predictable ‘unrest’ where Chelsea’s concerned. Because, not only have the club shown how cruel they are by making the players travel somewhere a little on the warm side for their pre-season games, they’ve gone one better than that. In an act that clearly cannot be regarded as anything but sheer callousness, Chelsea have ‘dumped’ their physio Dave Hancock.

Now, whereas some of us might think it’s not uncommon to see backroom staff depart once a new manager arrives at a club, not so says the ‘source’. Because the blame is laid squarely on the club’s shoulders, and a ‘clash of personalities’ with club doctor Bryan English is at it’s root. Well, of course, we should’ve guessed it couldn’t be anything as simple as a reshuffle within the medical department, as suggested by the club.

So, now we have news of a ‘delegation’, led by Chelsea captain John Terry – surprise, surprise – demanding Hancock’s reinstatement. So strong is the bond built up between the players and Hancock in his 18 long months at the club, that Terry allowed himself to be ‘persuaded’ to step in apparently.

Chelsea however, have said “There was absolutely no clash of personalities. There was a restructuring within the medical department and Dave was offered a role within that, which he initially declined. Therefore his contract was not renewed. The club wishes him all the best and thanks him for all his work with Chelsea.”

So, there you have it, not only have Chelsea ‘dumped’ their physio – incurring the wrath of John Terry in the process – but they’ve also forced the lads to go out and stroke the ball around a pitch when they are just too tired to put it in the back of the net seven times.

They’ll be capping wages next!

Filed under: Rants