Scolari Baffled By Chelsea Injury List

The long-standing problems that seem to have plagued Chelsea's medical department in recent seasons are apparently getting on Luiz Felipe Scolari's nerves.

The Brazilian has reportedly been surprised and extremely frustrated by the amount of injuries his squad have suffered and the fact that a number of long-term problems have left his team short of both fitness and personnel.

The coach is reportedly displeased with the club's medical department, headed by former UK Athletics doctor Bryan English, a man with whom Jose Mourinho came into regular conflict, often overtly criticising treatments prescribed by the medic.

There have been controversies at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons about the treatment of injuries to several players, most notably Michael Ballack and Michael Essien. There has been tension over the appropriate treatment for players' injuries and the fact that medical teams in players' home countries are often at odds with a Chelsea medical staff who do not seem to communicate well with the club's coaching staff.

The injury list this season has been a long one, with Scolari losing at some point an impressively high quality list of players. Essien, Ballack, Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Juliano Belletti, Deco, Petr Cech, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jose Bosingwa, Carlo Cudicini and John Obi Mikel have all been injured at some stage this season.

"I am surprised by the injuries," said Scolari of the situation.

"The problems started little, but grew larger and larger. Sometimes I received some players who could play one or two games before an injury or operation. I don't know very well what's happened before, but I think I have lost 15 players in four months. I am never able to put the same group out: I need to change every time. It's difficult for me and the players."

Scolari's specialist physical trainer, Darlan Schneider, made significant changes to Chelsea's fitness training, and put the aquad through an intensive strength and stamina building pre-season programme. Scolari refutes the suggestion that it was this intensity which has caused the casualties.

"Darlan is highly qualified. One or two injuries are muscular, the others are injuries that came before. Essien, Ballack, Ashley Cole in his foot, Belletti in his foot, came from two, three years ago," Scolari explained.

Scolari is reportedly trying to work with the medical team to improve its practice rather than attempting to change the personnel involved.

"The manager has absolute confidence in the entire medical team and values the vital role they play in ensuring the squad are in the best condition for every challenge," read an offical statement from Chelsea.

With remarks Scolari made at a fans' forum about Chelsea's transfer policy also being censored by the club this week, it would seem that there may be trouble brewing under the surface at Stamford Bridge.

Zack Wilson, Goal.com