Chelsea hit back at rift rumours

Chelsea today hit back at suggestions of a rift between senior players and manager Claudio Ranieri.

The first-team squad, kicking their heels after being knocked out of the FA Cup, have gone on a morale-building trip to Tenerife - without Ranieri.

But managing director Colin Hutchinson today insisted there is no split in the camp and denied reports there had been a half-time bust-up during their Cup defeat by Arsenal on Sunday.

Hutchinson also told Standard Sport that Chelsea may sue over the allegations of rows in the dressing room.

He said: "There is no truth at all in the reports. There was no confrontation at half-time. As I understand it, Ranieri did not say a lot. He sat down and was reflective.

"He then said some inspiring words before going out for the second half but we knew the knives would be out for us after the result on Sunday."

The club say Ranieri has returned home to visit his family and watch a number of European matches. Hutchinson said his decision not to join the players on the club trip had been taken long before the Cup exit at Highbury.

He said: "It was never intended that Claudio would go with the players to Tenerife. We made the decision before Sunday's game.

"It was decided to let the players have a break from Ranieri and for him to have a break from them. There is nothing sinister in it.

"Teams often go abroad to train and to relax in the sunshine and sometimes the manager goes with them and sometimes he doesn't. I don't think it is an issue. If we had won or drawn with Arsenal on Sunday then it would not have got a mention."