LONDON - Didier Drogba's decision to make public his desire to leave Chelsea put the club on the back foot again on Friday.
At the club's pre-match media conference for the Premier League match at Middlesbrough, Chelsea boss Avram Grant was left bewildered by numerous questions relating to Drogba's explosive interview in France Football Magazine in which he claimed that "something was broken" following Jose Mourinho's departure and that he wanted to follow him out of Stamford Bridge.
Grant steadfastly refused to make any comment on Drogba's controversial remarks - insisting that he wanted to speak with the Ivory Coast striker first.
But Chelsea, already reeling from the ferocity of the questions over Drogba's remarks, then pulled him out of the press launch for a charity song on which he and team-mate Michael Essien had contributed backing vocals.
They were both due to promote an anti-racism song called 'Skin' with singer Ian Wills directly after Grant's pre-match media gathering.
But fearing that Drogba would be quizzed incessantly over his interview, Chelsea removed him from the line-up leaving Essien and Wills to promote the single without the forward.
Although Chelsea made it clear in a statement on Thursday that they expect Drogba to see out his contract which runs until 2010, the player's comments have revealed that all is far from well in the dressing room despite Grant's protestations to the contrary.
Grant declared: "I know that it is not the first time he has said it. But I have not seen him yet. I need to do that first. It is internal business.
"I cannot tell you anything until I speak with him. Basically I don't like to speak about players in the paper, I like to discuss it with them.
"I have read many things that were not true, because I was on the inside, about problems in the dressing room. Now you know there was no problem in the dressing room until now and I hope it will continue like that. This attitude has brought us good results in a very difficult time.
"I am very happy with the atmosphere and the attitude of the players until now and I am sure that it will continue."
But Grant's problems worsened with the news that captain John Terry and left-back Ashley Cole are out of action for several weeks.
Terry underwent an operation on his injured knee on Friday while Cole is not expected back for at least a month after damaging ankle ligaments on international duty.
Grant said: "John Terry had an operation today and will be out for two or three weeks.
"John had a problem and tried his best to be available for the national team but in the last moment of the training, he got injured again.
"He had the operation today and I hope everything will be well. Ashley Cole is injured as well.
"I want all the players to be fit, especially John Terry. But we have a big squad and we need to handle this.
"Chelsea are not a one-man team but John is important. But it has happened and we need to play and win games without him."
Grant is happier about his backroom staff though with new assistant coach Henk ten Cate on the bench against Middlesbrough this weekend.
It will be Ten Cate's first competitive game since he joined the club from Ajax last week.
Grant declared: "I am very happy Henk ten Cate came to this team. Our vision is to play efficiently but with style. We know our vision but need the people who can do it and Henk can.
"I think the football is going to be entertaining and winning. The coaches will coach, the players will play and I will be the manager. I will make all the decision about the tactics and picking the team.
"The final decision is mine but I am very happy that I have Steve Clarke and Henk as assistants. Henk is part of the team and will be on the bench at Middlesbrough."
Grant also backed England midfielder Frank Lampard to overcome the critics who have made his life uncomfortable on international duty.
Lampard was booed by England fans when he came on as a substitute against Estonia but Grant said: "Frank is a strong character and he wants to play for England. I want him to play for England because I think he deserves it.
"Frank has shown in the past he has a strong character. When he gets on the pitch he gives 100%."
