WILLIAM GALLAS made a series of bizarre threats to Chelsea in an
astonishing five-month feud with manager Jose Mourinho.
Furious club chiefs yesterday decided to reveal the catalogue of
misbehaviour in an official statement on their own website.
In it, the Premiership champions claim the French international
defender:
Hawked himself around, searching for the
highest bidder.
Threatened to boycott their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool if
he was not offered a bigger contract.
Went on strike for the new seasons opening game against Manchester
City.
Warned he would score an own goal or get himself sent off if the
club tried to discipline him for his outrageous
actions.
Gallas was finally jettisoned by Chelsea when they used him as a
makeweight in the deal that brought Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge
from Arsenal minutes before the transfer window closed at midnight
last Thursday.
Boss Mourinho challenged Gallas, 29, the morning after transfer
deadline-day to come clean on why he had been sold.
The defender, currently away on international duty with France,
remained silent so Chelsea decided to act themselves.
Their statement said: Chelsea FC believes it is important for our
supporters to be made aware of the full facts regarding William
Gallas and the lack of respect he showed to the fans, manager and
club.
Despite leaving, he continues to attack Jose Mourinho and this
cannot be left unchallenged.
Chelsea made William Gallas a very substantial and attractive new
contract offer to stay. This was rejected.
The issue was purely one of money, despite his public comments he
wanted a new challenge, to play abroad . . .
These were just a smokescreen to cover the fact he was hawking
himself to the highest bidder.
Having failed to secure his demands, his position became
increasingly intransigent and unacceptable.
He initially refused to play against Liverpool in the FA Cup
semi-final last season in an effort to force an increased contract
offer.
He refused to join up with the team in Los Angeles during
pre-season, despite agreeing the dates for his return as the other
World Cup players did.
When Jose Mourinho generously offered him a way back into the
family after the American tour, this was thrown back in the
managers face.
The manager told him that, even if he did not agree a new contract
but returned to the family and abided by the rules, he would
still select the best players available and would not punish him
playing-wise.
However, despite meetings to try and resolve the problems, Gallas
made it clear to Jose Mourinho he would never play for Chelsea
again.
Before the first game of the season against Manchester City, when
only four defenders were available and John Terry was doubtful with
an injury, he refused to play.
He went on to threaten that if he was forced to play, or if he was
disciplined and financially punished for his breach of the rules,
he could score an own goal, get himself sent off or make deliberate
mistakes.
Clearly this was a totally unacceptable situation. So a
collectively agreed solution in Chelsea's interests had to be
found, hence his departure.
Chelsea has a wage structure in place that is valued not only on
the contribution of the player to the manager and the team, but
also on a players respect for the club and contribution to the
promotion and image of the club off the field.
Every player is expected to play their part in this. William
Gallas rarely recognised these responsibilities.
He also failed to recognise the role Jose Mourinho and Chelsea
played in helping him become a double Premiership champion for a
player whose only League title had been in the French Second
Division.
Gallas was unavailable for comment last night.
