Chelsea have denied reports claiming injured striker Andriy Shevchenko refused to travel to their Champions League semi-final, second leg at Liverpool because he had been dropped.
The club also denied there was a rift between the Ukrainian and his team-mates or the club over the issue.
“He suffered an injury in training on Sunday and it was decided afterwards that he was not fit to play against Liverpool,” said a Chelsea statement.
“Therefore, like other injured players, he did not travel.”
Shevchenko was also keen to dismiss reports of a split within the Chelsea camp.
“I am really sorry to miss the match and can’t be with the team to help and support them in what must be one of the most important games in Chelsea’s history,” he said on his own website.
“I will remain in London and work hard on my rehabilitation to ensure I can make myself available as soon as possible.”
Another big-name signing, Michael Ballack, has also reportedly fallen out with Chelsea after undergoing an operation on his ankle in Germany without the club’s permission.
Ballack is expected to miss the rest of the campaign although Chelsea were reported to be dubious about the need for an operation.
Harald Stenger, a spokesman for the DFB (Germany’s football association) said: “Our team doctor informed us that, based on his diagnosis from Friday, an immediate operation was necessary and unavoidable.
“Wohlfahrt detected loose bone splints in Ballack’s left high ankle as a result of the injury sustained in the game against Newcastle.
“Any further training session or game could have potentially endangered the player’s health, or even threatened Michael Ballack’s career.
“Mueller-Wohlfahrt has assured us that he had informed Chelsea’s two physicians before he performed the surgery.”
Ballack himself denied reports that he had the operation now in order for him to play a part in Germany’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against San Marino and Slovakia in June.
“Anybody saying that this operation was done because I was looking at the two Germany games in the beginning of June has to be kidding.
“That’s complete stupidity. Name me one player on earth who would risk not playing in the FA Cup final against Manchester United or not playing in a Champions League semi-final against Liverpool because of a Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino.”
