New recruits are warned by Mourinho

Thursday 21 July 2005 00:00 BST
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One of the main questions surrounding Wright-Phillips' �21million move to Stamford Bridge has been what effect it will have on his England prospects, should he struggle to get much playing time with his new club.

The former Manchester City player is adamant he will "let his football do the talking" in the intense competition for places at Stamford Bridge, and Mourinho has reminded his whole squad in no uncertain terms that Chelsea and not international considerations should be uppermost in their minds.

"I told the players on the first day that all through the season they will have a lot of questions about the World Cup, and I told them if they think too much about the World Cup they are in danger because they don't play for Chelsea," the Portuguese said.

Asked what made Wright-Phillips a �21million player, Mourinho bluntly stated: "Because the English market is crazy.

"That's why it's so difficult to buy English players from English clubs. He was �21million because of what he did last season for his club and for his country."

Mourinho believes the 23-year-old has the versatility to fulfil a variety of roles for Chelsea.

"I like my wingers to play with a lot of freedom, in fact we have just finished a meeting where I was speaking about some tactical situations from the last game against Benfica, and I was speaking to .125Damien.375 Duff, .125Joe.375 Cole and .125Arjen.375 Robben, so at the same time I was speaking to Shaun, and he could understand I like to give them freedom, but at the same time there are certain principles of our play that you cannot lose. But I think he is a very intelligent payer and he can adapt."

He added: "Shaun is very, very good but he has to get better, he's too young not to get better.

"Arriving in such a good group of players, the conditions are here to get better, and I would be disappointed also with myself if in a few years he is not better.

"He can be more a pure winger than our other players are, but I know he can also play from the inside, and that is a player completely adapted to the style we play.

"He's fast, he's creative, he has movement, he is dynamic, he can play on the right, he can play on the left, he can play wide, he can play inside."

Wright-Phillips, who along with the rest of Chelsea's squad is gearing up for the prestige friendly against AC Milan in Foxboro, Massachusetts, reiterated the reasons for moving south.

"It was the chance of a lifetime and not to have come to a club like Chelsea would have been silly. I can challenge for every trophy in England," he told the club's official website.

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