Chelsea players given behaviour warning

Chelsea’s players have been warned of “severe disciplinary consequences” if their private lives tarnish the Premier League leaders’ image, club officials revealed on Friday.

Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay and coach Carlo Ancelotti held a 10-minute meeting with the players this week in a bid to avoid a repeat of the kind of lurid headlines that cost John Terry the England captaincy and have once again seen Ashley Cole making front-page news.

“We had a meeting this week with the players,” Ancelotti, who has been a staunch supporter of Chelsea captain Terry, said on Friday.

“It was a good meeting. Ron Gourlay was there as well. We spoke to the players and explained to them the behaviour that is required of the players in this club.

“Now they know very well what they have to do and what behaviour is expected of them when they’re in the Chelsea shirt.

“We are interested, me and the club, in protecting the image of this club. Not only the players and the manager, all the staff — the people who work in this club — have to protect that image.

“That is one of the most important things, the image of the club. We want to carry that forward. And I think the players and all the staff know very well what they have to do.

“All the players were there. Ron spoke for the club, for the owner (Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich), and the players listened.

“It was a private meeting and I don’t like to speak about what exactly was said. But, to confirm, the most important thing is that everybody has to pay attention to protect the image of the club.”

Chelsea travel to Wolves on Saturday with a one point lead at the top of the table.

But they will be without England midfielder Frank Lampard (virus) and Brazilian defender Alex (knee injury).

“We have some injuries for the next game,” said Ancelotti. “Lampard is not available as he has a virus and Alex is also out.

“Alex had an injury yesterday (Thursday) and he has a scan today on his knee. We have to wait to assess him, the Italian added.

Terry, who was given a break to spend time with his wife following revelations of an alleged affair with French lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-girlfriend of former team-mate Wayne Bridge, is back with the squad.

“John Terry has returned and trained very well this week. He’s able to play tomorrow (Saturday) and is in good condition,” Ancelotti said.

Asked if Chelsea could win the title and deny second-placed Manchester United a fourth straight Premier League trumph, Ancelotti said: “Until the end of the season, we have 90 days. It depends on us what happens at the end of the season.

“If we do very well in these 90 days, we can have a good result at the end of the season.”