Robben faces Chelsea axe

Arjen Robben will be dropped to the substitutes’ bench for Chelsea’s clash with West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Boss Jose Mourinho confirmed Robben would not start the game but insisted it had nothing to do with his reported criticism of the Chelsea coach’s rotation policy at the club.

The Dutch winger later denied the comments and strenuously rejected accusations he is unhappy with the system which worked so well for Chelsea when they won the Premiership title last season.

Robben began Sunday’s Premiership victory over London rivals Arsenal but was substituted in the second half.

However, Mourinho said that unlike defender Ricardo Carvalho, who was disciplined by the coach for speaking out after being dropped from the side, Robben’s remarks were his opinion and nothing different from what the player had said to his face privately.

Mourinho, keen to avoid another Carvalho-like showdown with another member of his squad, said: “Ricardo is a situation where he spoke with me, went home to Portugal and then says he was not happy with some colleagues.

“Arjen is completely different. He has an opinion and he expressed it. I knew about it before I read it in the press. The only problem is the comments came after Ricardo’s situation.”

Carvalho was carpeted by Mourinho after the player publicly criticised him for leaving him out of the Community Shield clash with Arsenal and the Premiership opener with Wigan last Sunday.

Carvalho’s comments angered Mourinho, who had explained his decisions to the player the day before the clash with Wigan.

The Chelsea chief then humiliated Carvalho in front of the rest of the squad and new signing Michael Essien at a team meeting – forcing Carvalho to issue a public apology for his comments via the club’s official website.

Carvalho was omitted from the side which beat Arsenal thanks to a lucky goal from Didier Drogba in the second half.

It was Arsenal’s first defeat in the league by Chelsea for a decade and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side lacked belief.

“My biggest concern is that the players are very disappointed because they feel they did not deserve to lose the game. I hope that will have positive consequences in the future," he said.

“We have a lot of potential. It is only the second game in the season and the future will tell us how big the ambition is. My ambition is very high for this team and I do not accept it is a transitional season.”