Reassuring words RE Tiote

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7035493,00.html

Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo claims the club will not be looking to bring in cover for Michael Essien.

New Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas saw his plans for the new season take a huge blow last week when Essien suffered knee ligament damage, ruling him out for six months.

There are serious doubts about Essien's long-term fitness given that it is the third such injury of his career, and the London club have been linked with a number of replacements for the midfield powerhouse - most notably Scott Parker and Cheik Tiote.

It is understood that the clubs of those players, West Ham and Newcastle, have not received any official approach from Chelsea, but Tiote impressed last season with his combative displays and would be an obvious like-for-like replacement for Essien.

Part of Emenalo's new brief is to look after scouting and he would play a role in finding a replacement for Essien if asked to do so by Villas-Boas.

The Nigerian insists that the Blues will not be affected by Essien's injury, though, and has hinted that the club will not need to bring in a replacement.

"The squad is littered with world-class players and the idea of replacing someone or not replacing someone sounds a little bit ludicrous," he told Sky Sports News.

"We have enough in the tank to get the job done. He (Essien) will be missed. Everyone knows he is an important part of Chelsea and a magnificent player in the side for the club and he still will be when he recovers but I don't think there is any panic or desperation to replace him.

"We will do just what a club of our ilk should do and find the right solution."

 

No one bothered then?

 

Tiote would just reject them again

 

I like this Andre Villas-Boas already!

 

Sorry Smudger!

Yes tis very good news. Saw the interview on sky actually and thought the same.

I wasn't really ever worried though for some reason. Think I just believe Tiote more when he says he want to stay.

 

...still trying to get my head around the ghost ref from another thread.

 

He's so ambiguous I'm more worried. Well not really. He doesn't deny link with the players. Basically you'd could interpret it as "we're not desperate we've got a world class squad and we add to it as we see fit not to just replace someone when injured" They like Tiote and they already wanted to add him. Now they wouldn't admit it for fear of being held to ransom, but his injury must have some impact to sign the players they are targeting anyway in his position. I'm less worried the more I think about it though. The ACON would be a massive negative for them. Essien would only just be getting close to fitness and that's without setbacks. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a vieira typ signing, an ageing def mid who is still high quality. Obviously a youngster or permanent signing would be their preferred choice but it is likely to be prohibitively expensive. As much as they may have in terms of finances, Torres was 50m, and the likes of Neymar, and long term replacements for Lampard, Terry are higher priorities.

 

Im definatly going to be supporting Chelsea for the title again next season, i like the manager and the players