Ten Cate hits out at critics

Chelsea coach unhappy with media

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 9th March 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ten Cate hits out at critics

Ten Cate: Feeling the pressure

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Henk ten Cate has blasted the media for piling the pressure on Chelsea and accused players of leaking stories that cause embarrassment to him and the club.

The Dutch coach claims he was looking for peace when he decided to join Avram Grant's backroom staff in October.

But he has not been able to relax after reports emerged of a training ground bust-up with John Terry, and since losing to Tottenham in the Carling Cup final he has become frustrated with speculation about a change of management at Stamford Bridge.

Michael Laudrup is the latest name to be linked with the top job at Chelsea and Ten Cate admits he is growing increasingly angry with the English press.

"You wouldn't expect pressure from the media, given that we are doing well, but the pressure is enormous," he told De Telegraaf.

Survival

"We can't plan more than 10 games ahead because it's all about a battle for survival for us.

"One bad run of results and you're out. You just can't afford to lose here.

"I came to Chelsea because I was looking for peace. I wanted to work at the top level and I was looking, at the same time, for peace."

Ten Cate believes the incident involving Terry was blown up out of all proportion and has hit out at the timing of the story.

Childish

"The British decided not to publish the story about me and John Terry the next day. But we lost the Carling Cup final against Tottenham and that was what they were waiting for.

"It was so childish of them and it was not the first incident."

Ten Cate has also vented his fury at the Chelsea players, adding: "What does irritate me is when players from a squad deliberately leak stuff. The training ground should be a safe zone."