I am a Nigerian and also a Chelsea fan. The problem is the ease with which some people here in Britain insult others. Especially Mr Mourinho. Just imagine if the European Cup was in January/February. And ManU, Liverpool etc were to release thier players 15 days before the Competition! Are we to believe Ferguson or Benitez will keep quiet? [Arsenal has almost no-one in the National team] Has the former ever, when Rooney is concerned? Not even the South American Cup is slated by FIFA to co-incide with the European season! No, only the AFC is. Is it because they want European Clubs to think twice before signing Afircan players? Its mystifying. The Club vs Country row is being sensibly addressed by Mr Mourinho. We appreciate that. So does all balanced, normal people.

OMO ADEMOLA, HAYES. MIDDLESEX, U.K

Mourinho has every right to make enquiries as to whether he can have some of his very valuable workforce for a little bit longer, the club do pay their wages after all and if they get injured playing in this tournament - who loses out in the long run? Chelsea! Quite why his perfectly reasonable query is equated with a lack of perspective, common decency and stupidity by some is beyond me. If you don't ask you don't get as they say and Mourinho is not scared of asking even if one suspects he knows the answer will be in the negative. I just think it's great that he is using this closed season time to front such a worthy cause in Ghana with such enthusiasm along with Essien and a number of other players. He could be lying on a beach somewhere enjoying some down time - hardly the act of a intellectually challenged, morally bankrupt human being one would suggest? Pity that gets missed by everyone in the focus on this one point.

bella, Perth, WA

Maybe the tables should be turned on the special one....let players meet up for pre season a a day or two before the start of Chelsea's season-afterall like the special one said 'what's the point of training' . It's a surprise no one can stand Chelseas these days!

Sam, London, England

Mr Baldock from Crawley has missed the point -this is not about the Chelsea managers self importance or the game of cricket. It's about trying to minimise the disruption and knock on effects of losing five key players from a top flight football club for a month. The club has been aware of the African Cup of Nations competition being held in Jan for sometime now and has been quite happy for the players to take part and represent their respective countries. All Jose has done in the press conference is put forward the club's proposal to the various national teams of allowing the Chelsea players to skip the pre tournament warm up time by 15 days and allow them to just take part in the tournament when it starts. A proposal which strikes a fair balance between representing both club and country and nought to do with 'greed' as Mr Baldock intimated.

Adi Proud, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

The African Nations Cup isnt a new tournament, Jose would have known what lay ahead signing established african international players. Just think of the stink this would cause in reverse, if, say, Rooney and Gerrard were to join American teams, and have to join the world cup party the day before our first game. Our squad train together for a month or so dont they?

andy, sunderland, uk

Wow, your bitter.
A bitter cricket fan, thats strange, especially when England are starting to look OK.

david lion, sydney, nsw

Mr Baldock from Crawley has missed the point -this is not about the Chelsea managers self importance or the game of cricket. It's about trying to minimise the disruption and knock on effects of losing five key players from a top flight football club for a month. The club has been aware of the African Cup of Nations competiton being held in Jan for sometime now and has been quite happy for the players to take part and represent their respective countries. All Jose has done in the press conference is put forward the club's proposal to the various national teams of allowing the Chelsea players to skip the pre tournament warm up time by 15 days and allow them to just take part in the tournament when it starts. A proposal which strikes a fair balance between representing both club and country and nought to do with 'greed' as Mr Baldock so perversly intimated.

Adi Proud, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

So, Mourinho thinks it is fine for African National Teams to just assemble a day or few hours before the start of a tournament? Does that happen in Portugal? I am sure it doesn't. That is pure lack of respect for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Alex Kganetsano, Loughbourogh, UK

Startling! The self-important cheek of this man is too insulting to be funny any more. He should look to County Cricket where International stars are hardly ever available for domestic games....and do we here endless bleating from them? Has anyone ever researched which intellectual functions are replaced as greed takes over a brain? It looks as if logic and common-sense go first, followed by perspective and simple decency.

Steven Baldock, Crawley,