Bates writ adds to Chelsea's woes

There was more than a whiff of cordite in the air around Stamford Bridge after Chelsea's dogged goalless draw against VfB Stuttgart that ensured a place in the last eight of the European Cup - although the fireworks were off the pitch rather than on it.

There was more than a whiff of cordite in the air around Stamford Bridge after Chelsea's dogged goalless draw against VfB Stuttgart that ensured a place in the last eight of the European Cup - although the fireworks were off the pitch rather than on it.

Firstly it was confirmed that the former chairman, Ken Bates, had issued a writ for £2m against the club, claiming breach of contract and threatening to subpoena Roman Abramovich. Then Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink became the latest big-name player to break ranks and demand a first-team place or a transfer, and thirdly news filtered through that both Manchester United and Juventus had been dumped out of Europe's premier competition. To cap it all the England coach Sven Goran Eriksson - perennially touted as the replacement for Chelsea's Claudio Ranieri - has apparently promised the Football Association an answer within the month as to whether he will remain in his post.

Little wonder Bruce Buck, the man who replaced Bates as chairman, penned a column in the Chelsea match programme entitled: "The world keeps turning." It surely does, although it sometimes appears that a certain Russian billionaire may be dictating its direction.

Bates' legal action may be nothing more than a fit of pique after his recent resignation, which followed the arrival of the new chief executive, Peter Kenyon. Bates, 72, who pocketed £17m from Abramovich's takeover, signed a two-year deal to remain as chairman, and then life-president, with travel expenses and other allowances. But he claims he was marginalised. It is a feeling shared by the top scorer, Hasselbaink, who said: "I have informed the management of the club that I will leave if I can't play on a more regular basis. I want to play every week but Ranieri makes a lot of changes." His outburst provoked a response from his fellow striker, Adrian Mutu. "Jimmy is a very good player and I hope he is here next season," he said. "I don't have a problem with the manager, but you would have to ask Jimmy. It's not difficult changing the strikers, and it's normal. The manager decides who to play."

And that is still part of the problem. Ranieri has four leading strikers, but does not know who to start. Incredibly he will soon have 15 midfielders and there the problem is even more acute. The obvious difference between Chelsea and the other top teams in the Premiership, Arsenal and United, and in Europe, is that they do not have a basic style or pattern of play. Tactics and formations still vary from match to match. The tinkering just does not stop. And so against Stuttgart, for the first time since the opening day of the Premiership, Chelsea played 4-5-1. It worked, of course, preserving the 1-0 advantage earned in Germany, and claiming an impressive fifth consecutive clean sheet in Europe, but it clearly made the players more nervous.

"We felt cramped and couldn't get on the ball and pass, but in the end the result was there," admitted midfielder Frank Lampard. Tellingly, he added: "We can definitely go all the way if we play to our potential."

It is unlocking that potential which is the key and although Chelsea look perhaps better equipped playing in the Champions' League than at home, they have yet to convince. The revolution is far from complete.