Jose accuses errant star Gallas

Jose Mourinho has accused William Gallas of showing Chelsea a lack of respect.

An angry Jose Mourinho has accused errant Chelsea star William Gallas of showing the club a lack of respect.

The France international, whose future at Stamford Bridge has long been the subject of speculation, failed to report back for pre-season training, following an extended break after the World Cup.

The tardy Gallas did not make the plane for the Premiership champions' training camp in the United States, and Mourinho has now made public his frustration.

Player and club are still in talks over extending the defender's contract in SW6 but this latest episode, coupled with the player losing his Number 13 shirt to newcomer Michael Ballack, may have jeopardised the 28-year-old's Stamford Bridge future, with the Portuguese insistent the player has let the club down.

"It's not only me that is upset - we're all upset," Mourinho told Sky Sports News.

"Everybody is upset because we had a strong family and a strong group and this has shown a lack of respect to everybody and I don't like that."

Ballack, meanwhile, admitted that he was originally to have worn the number 19 shirt following his switch from Bayern Munich, only for Mourinho to hand him Gallas's old shirt.

"Initially I wanted the 13 shirt and I was sad because it had already been taken," said Ballack.

"I had accepted the number 19 shirt. But two days ago the coach [Mourinho] came and said 'okay, it's fine for you to have the 13'. There was no particular reason behind the decision."

While Gallas has yet to link up with his team-mates, new recruit John Obi Mikel joined up with The Blues in Los Angeles.

The Nigerian was the subject of a protracted transfer wrangle with Manchester United, but Mourinho has paid tribute to the budding star.

"Mikel John Obi is Mikel John Obi," said Mourinho. "I hope the brain helps and I believe the brain will help him in the next couple of years become one of the best players in the world.

"I hope the brain, the personality, the character can help because his football is amazing.

"He has had very little football but he has been here for the last two days and you can see the qualities he has.

"We cannot make mistakes in the judgement so I just wish him a lot of success at Chelsea.

"I just hope he and the people around him can help him to be a good personality because he has the ability to be a real star."