Todd Boehly has re-hired popular Chelsea physio Jose Calvarro after members of Frank Lampard 's squad lobbied for his return.
Calvarro, 43, left Stamford Bridge last September after more than six years working at the club as part of an overhaul orchestrated by co-owner Boehly's new regime. But now the Chelsea hierarchy have U-turned on their decision after the Spanish medic went to join Italian Serie B side Como, where former Blues captain Dennis Wise is president and ex-player Cesc Fabregas now plies his trade.
The Evening Standard report that a host of Chelsea players asked the club to bring Calvarro back, feeling that his departure was a reason behind the Blues' injury crisis which played former manager Graham Potter either side of the World Cup. But since the 43-year-old was already contracted to on-the-rise club Como, Chelsea could only get him to work one day a week on a consultancy basis, flying to London every Sunday.
Calvarro wasn't the only member of staff to be let go from the treatment room last year, with long-serving medical chiefs Thierry Laurent and Paco Biosca also departing, as well as groundsmen Jason Griffin and Reisse Griffin, father and son. After the World Cup, physios Jason Palmer and Jon Fearn left Stamford Bridge after around a decade of service.
It's added that physiotherapy firm Remedy led major changes to the medical department, while Chelsea have also brought in Fearghal Kerin from Leinster Rugby and the highly-rated Dave Fevre, formerly of Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Warriors Rugby, to be another consultant. Further changes are expected, as Boehly hopes to turn the Blues' fortunes around.
Interim boss Lampard is currently on a five-game losing streak, with Chelsea scoring a measly one goal since Potter was sacked on April 2. The Blues' dismal form leaves them 11th in the Premier League table with six games to go, and Lampard knows that turning it around won't be easy.
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"Absolutely I worry because if you're a Chelsea fan, you've been used to 20 years of success, and you want it more," the legendary ex-midfielder confessed after overseeing Wednesday's lifeless 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford. "I've got no problem with the fans booing. I'm not sitting here to go against the fans and say, 'Don't boo the players'. You're throwing the question out there. Absolutely not.
"I'll defend the players because I know they're young lads who want to do well. Is there an issue with confidence? Yeah. Is there an issue with the balance of the squad? Maybe, yeah."
Lampard added: "I just told the players it is not a sob story that everything is going against us, but I can't talk about any application things about the squad. They are trying everything, they are really disappointed in the dressing room and the fans should have no doubt about that."
