Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Chelsea's players have been warned as to their future behaviour after weeks of lurid headlines.
Chief exec moves to protect Chelsea's image after lurid headlines
Chelsea players have been warned as to their future behaviour after weeks of lurid headlines surrounding the club.
Chief executive Ron Gourlay made the warning in a tough-talking showdown with the squad at the club's training ground this week.
The meeting came in response to front-page headlines involving club captain John Terry and his England team-mate Ashley Cole.
Gourlay, who was speaking on behalf of the club's owner Roman Abramovich, reminded the players of their responsibility to protect the image of the club and warned of 'severe disciplinary consequences' should any player step out of line in the future.
He organised the meeting, which lasted around 10 minutes, together with coach Carlo Ancelotti, who also spoke.
Good meeting
Ancelotti said: "We had a meeting this week with the players. It was a good meeting. Ron Gourlay was there as well.
"We spoke to the players and explained to them the behaviour that is required of the players in this club.
"Now they know very well what they have to do and what behaviour is expected of them when they're in the Chelsea shirt."
Ancelotti had in previous weeks gone out of his way to insist he was not bothered what his players did in their private lives as long as it did not affect their performances on the pitch.
But the Italian insists he is interested in the image of the club.
Protect
He added: "We are interested, me and the club, in protecting the image of this club. Not only the players and the manager, all the staff - the people who work in this club - have to protect that image.
"That is one of the most important things, the image of the club. We want to carry that forward. And I think the players and all the staff know very well what they have to do.
"All the players were there. Ron spoke for the club, for the owner, and the players listened.
"It was a private meeting and I don't like to speak about what exactly was said. But, to confirm, the most important thing is that everybody has to pay attention to protect the image of the club."
While it is unlikely Chelsea would sack any player found guilty of tarnishing the club's image in future, it is understood that disciplinary action would be harsh and immediate, although no punishments were set out in the meeting.
