Andre Villas-Boas refuses to recall star

Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas has stipulated that he will not select Alex again for the club, despite other players being unfit or unavailable.

The Brazil international centre half handed in a transfer request earlier in the campaign, as first-team opportunities became limited under the Portuguese coach, and may well leave Stamford Bride in January.

Despite concerns over Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz for Chelsea’s Boxing Day clash with Fulham, Villas Boas will not turn to the exiled defender for help.

“We went through that period of results and we wanted everybody on the same tune regarding training, and the same tune in terms of commitment, concentration, objectives and immediate club objectives,” he told The Telegraph.

“It was not a thing to penalise anybody.

“We do not accept a transfer request and put people training apart and then dial 999 and ask for help. At the moment we will stick to our principles and our values for the decision we felt was good for the club.

“The request was accepted so we have to let the market (January transfer window) open and then we have to look to adapt ourselves. That was the decision we felt sensible. We felt confident at that time and we will stick to it,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight