Chinese unhappy with Chelsea

Chelsea's efforts to raise their profile in the Far East were dealt a blow yesterday when they were forced to deny claims made by the Chinese Olympic team - five days into a two-week stay with the Premiership champions - that players have been unhappy with the facilities provided at the club's £20m training complex in Cobham.

Under the headline "Chelsea is not as good as we thought" on the website of the Chinese sports daily Titan yesterday, several players are reported to have complained about being unable to train regularly on the same field used by Chelsea and at being denied showers because they were used by female players and students from King's College, London, who share use of the site. "The situation is that the food and lodging is good but the training field is not so good," a player from the under-23 team, Zhou Haibin, was quoted to have said. The sports daily also chided Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, after he claimed "we have everything to share" when the Chinese arrived on February 1.

In a statement released on the Chelsea website yesterday evening Guo Bingyan, the Olympic team's assistant manager and media officer, tried to gloss over the claims. "We are so impressed by the great pitches and facilities provided to us in Cobham training centre," he said. "Everyone of the team is satisfied with the training life here in Cobham and would thank again everyone who has made efforts in turning this into reality."

A Chelsea spokesperson attacked Titan's story, saying: "As the statement says, the Chinese Football Association are more than happy with the facilities available. I wouldn't give the earlier claims any credence." The Chinese played a Chelsea XI in a friendly last night, face Queens Park Rangers tomorrow and then Brentford next Tuesday before returning home.