Cudicini content to be team player

Chelsea reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini insists he put the club’s interests before his own when deciding to sign a contract extension.

Cudicini, understudy to first choice goalkeeper Petr Cech, has been linked with a number of clubs and a return to Italy this season.

However, the Chelsea stopper ignored other options and put pen to paper on a longer deal at Stamford Bridge because he wants to remain part of coach Jose Mourinho’s exceptionally gifted group of players.

Cudicini continues to make no secret of the fact he hates life on the substitute’s bench but apart from starting two Premiership games, one in the Champions League and two others in the FA and Carling Cups, the Italian has been forced to watch the Czech Republic international from the sidelines.

But he dismissed suggestions that he was heading back to Italy with Fiorentina by agreeing to stay in west London until 2009.

“I’m happy to be part of this plan and of this group. I continue because for me the team’s interests arrive before the personal ones,” Cudicini explained.

“At the beginning it was hard, but then I had my space. I would be a liar saying I’m happy to be on the bench, but I know my situation and I accept it.”

Cudicini’s decision was quickly followed by another move on the goalkeeping front by the reigning champions as they agreed to hand Barnsley’s Scott Flinders a trial.

Oakwell chief Andy Ritchie insists he will not prevent the youngster from accepting a dream switch on a permanent basis if the current Barclays Premiership leaders follow up their interest with a firm bid for the Barnsley stopper.

“It is a massive opportunity for Scott and we cannot stand in his way if anything comes of it,” Tykes boss Ritchie told Barnsley’s official website, barnsleyfc.co.uk.

“He will go down to train with them and we will see what happens.”

Flinders represented England in last year’s Under-20 Toulon tournament and has been in impressive form for the south Yorkshire outfit.

Chelsea will continue to monitor the injury to Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba while on international duty in the African Nations Cup. He suffered a knee injury during their victory over Morocco in Cairo after scoring the winner from the penalty spot.

The Blues will hope it is not a recurrence of the minor knee problem that forced him out of a number of their games in December.

Meanwhile sacked striker Adrian Mutu has admitted he acted like a ‘child’ during his spell at Stamford Bridge.

Mutu, who was sacked by Chelsea after testing positive for cocaine in 2004, has scored six goals in 11 games for new club Juventus after serving a lengthy ban for his drugs offence.

Mutu now believes the switch has worked out best for both parties and insists he is a changed man since leaving the Barclays Premiership champions.

“I went through a lot but I have improved myself,” said Mutu. “Nobody has mistrusted me at Juventus and I think I’ve paid them back.

“I have nothing against Chelsea. I hope for them they are going to do very good things. As a player then, maybe I was still like a child. But now I’m different and I have made changes.

“I hope to improve as a footballer and also perhaps as a human being.”