China

China deny unhappy training at Chelsea

(AP)
Updated: 2007-02-06 08:50

China's Olympic soccer team denied Monday that it is unhappy with the practice facilities provided in London by two-time defending Premier League champion Chelsea.

The Chinese Olympic soccer team attends a team training session at Chelsea Football Club's training ground in Cobham, south of London February 2, 2007.[Reuters]

"We are so impressed by the great pitches and facilities provided to us in Cobham training center," Guo Bingyan, the team's assistant team manager and media officer, said in a statement released by Chelsea.

Earlier, some of China's players were quoted by a Chinese sports daily as saying they were disappointed by Chelsea's Cobham training facility.

"Chelsea is not as good as we thought," said a headline on the Web site of the daily Titan.

"The situation is that the food and lodging is good, but the training field is not so good," player Zhou Haibin was quoted as saying.

Chelsea issued a statement by Guo saying the team was grateful for Chelsea's "great hospitality and arrangements."

"All young players are very excited about such an experiences and the coaching staffs are interested in the various workshops," he said.

Guo said "everyone of the team" was satisfied with the training "and life here in Cobham."

The Titan newspaper said players complained about the wet English weather, and being unable to train regularly on the same field used by Chelsea. They also said they didn't take showers at the training ground, because those facilities were used by female players and students.

The Chinese will play three games in England, including a match on Wednesday against Queens Park Rangers