Crespo future at Chelsea in doubt, Mourinho hints

CHELSEA are looking to for a defender, midfielder and a striker for the new Premiership season, with Argentine Hernan Crespo unlikely to fit into their plans, new manager Jose Mourinho hinted last night.

Crespo failed to turn up for a pre-season meeting yesterday and Mourinho said he had not heard from him or his agent.

“Crespo was not there and until now I have not heard from him,” he said.

Mourinho revealed: “We have 20 players decided on for the squad. We have three or four more spaces to make before the new season, and the spaces may be for new people or persons who are already Chelsea players.”

He dodged talking about individuals but made it clear that the club is not in for Edgar Davids or Wayne Rooney.

However, he admitted: “Right- back, Paulo Ferreira, Glen Johnson, that’s closed; left-back, Babayaro, Wayne Bridge, closed; left-wing, Duff, Robben, closed; central defence, open; midfield player, open; striker, I don’t know yet.”

He said he spoke to Adrian Mutu who was positive about his future with Chelsea but had no idea why Crespo had failed to show up: “I don’t know if maybe his plane was delayed.”

He also spoke about Chelsea’s failure to sign Steven Gerrard from Liverpool. “When it was a possibility, I thought he was a top player. I don’t know him well but when I saw him on the pitch I can understand he is a top player with a top personality.

“But I think positive. You have a lot of players to choose. He is a top player no doubt, but I’m not worried about it. We have to change our minds in a different direction. I wish him big success at Liverpool, but I hope he stays just behind us in the League.”

Mourinho, who is taking Chelsea on a pre-season tour to the US on July 21, said he wanted a final squad of about 24 players.

He played down suggestions Chelsea were about to sign Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids from Barcelona, saying he would not add to the balance with Claude Makelele already in midfield.

“I have heard 100 players linked with Chelsea,” Mourinho said, adding that though he admired England and Everton 18-year-old Wayne Rooney, the striker did not feature in his plans.

Serbia & Montenegro centre forward Mateja Kezman, who agreed terms for a transfer from PSV Eindhoven last week, had already joined the squad and needed only to finalise medical and other formalities, Mourinho said.

Right-back Ferreira, a key member of Mourinho’s Champions League- winning Porto side last season, will be one of the last to join after coming on as substitute for Portugal in the Euro 2004 final on Sunday.

Mourinho said he faced a tough job integrating his squad, with players arriving at different times.

They all needed 20 days’ holiday, he added, but hoped they would be able to travel to the US even if they were not ready to play. Chelsea play Celtic, AS Roma and AC Milan on the tour.

The squad return to an opening Premiership meeting with Manchester United on August 15. Mourinho said he would encourage his players to regard it as just another match.

“I understand what it means for the fans and for football lovers to have a big match at the start,” he said.

“Each match is just three points, no more and no less.”