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William Gallas starts his career as an Arsenal player this weekend, but all the talk will still be about what happened at his old club.
I've got to say I was not surprised to see the stuff
come out of Chelsea this week.
I am not in a position to say I believe William Gallas said those things, just as I am not in a position to say I don't believe he said those things.
What I will say is that I would be absolutely staggered if a player, who had been paid the vast amount of money Gallas was paid at Stamford Bridge, would actually make those kind of threats.
I don't think it has anything to do with where William Gallas has gone, though.
I am sure Chelsea fans have mixed feelings on the way their club has handled the whole thing, but supporters do have a right to know if one of their top players is indeed saying those things - especially one that is on his way out of the club.
Chelsea probably felt they were doing the right thing, explaining why one of their best players was being sold - along with Eidur Gudjohnsen don't forget - but there are ways and means of doing these things.
I am inclined to think that if this had happened at Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal, we wouldn't have seen it across the back - and front - pages and we wouldn't be talking about it.
There's no denying Chelsea have come a long, long way as football club in the past couple of years. But this shows they still have plenty to learn.
This might not be his doing, but don't forget Jose Mourinho has only managed in the Portuguese League before, which is nothing like the Premiership in terms of media coverage and intensity.
It's a completely different kettle of fish and it takes a lot more than success on the field to establish yourselves as a football club and win everybody's respect.
I don't doubt Chelsea are still learning as they go, but off the field, they have come up short in more than one department.
The way they have behaved and conducted themselves at times is just not becoming of the two-time champions and best side in the land.
It's a shame, because for two seasons now their players have been fantastic, but for me, the club has occasionally been guilty of showing a lack of humility and a little bit of respect towards opponents
Manchester United have been at the top of our game for years now and dealt with the fierce scrutiny that comes with it.
This summer we all know Ruud van Nistelrooy left under a cloud, but we haven't heard any bickering coming from Old Trafford, certainly not what we've seen from Stamford Bridge this week.
And Arsenal lost Ashley Cole to Chelsea after a protracted and messy affair, but we were spared the back-biting when the deal finally went through - and whatever they thought privately, publicly they even wished him well.
I've got to say I was not surprised to see the stuff
come out of Chelsea this week.
I am not in a position to say I believe William Gallas said those things, just as I am not in a position to say I don't believe he said those things.
What I will say is that I would be absolutely staggered if a player, who had been paid the vast amount of money Gallas was paid at Stamford Bridge, would actually make those kind of threats.
I don't think it has anything to do with where William Gallas has gone, though.
I am sure Chelsea fans have mixed feelings on the way their club has handled the whole thing, but supporters do have a right to know if one of their top players is indeed saying those things - especially one that is on his way out of the club.
Chelsea probably felt they were doing the right thing, explaining why one of their best players was being sold - along with Eidur Gudjohnsen don't forget - but there are ways and means of doing these things.
I am inclined to think that if this had happened at Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal, we wouldn't have seen it across the back - and front - pages and we wouldn't be talking about it.
There's no denying Chelsea have come a long, long way as football club in the past couple of years. But this shows they still have plenty to learn.
This might not be his doing, but don't forget Jose Mourinho has only managed in the Portuguese League before, which is nothing like the Premiership in terms of media coverage and intensity.
It's a completely different kettle of fish and it takes a lot more than success on the field to establish yourselves as a football club and win everybody's respect.
I don't doubt Chelsea are still learning as they go, but off the field, they have come up short in more than one department.
The way they have behaved and conducted themselves at times is just not becoming of the two-time champions and best side in the land.
It's a shame, because for two seasons now their players have been fantastic, but for me, the club has occasionally been guilty of showing a lack of humility and a little bit of respect towards opponents
Manchester United have been at the top of our game for years now and dealt with the fierce scrutiny that comes with it.
This summer we all know Ruud van Nistelrooy left under a cloud, but we haven't heard any bickering coming from Old Trafford, certainly not what we've seen from Stamford Bridge this week.
And Arsenal lost Ashley Cole to Chelsea after a protracted and messy affair, but we were spared the back-biting when the deal finally went through - and whatever they thought privately, publicly they even wished him well.
