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Chelsea re-hire popular staff member sacked by Todd Boehly after a plea from players

Todd Boehly has brought back popular Chelsea physio Jose Calvarro after members of Frank Lampard’s squad begged for his return.

Calvarro, 43, left Stamford Bridge last September after more than six years with the club as part of a restructuring overseen by co-owner Boehly’s new regime. The Chelsea leadership reversed their decision when the Spanish doctor joined Italian Serie B club Como, where former Blues captain Dennis Wise is president and ex-player Cesc Fabregas currently plays.

According to the Evening Standard, a number of Chelsea players have petitioned the club to bring Calvarro back, believing that his departure was a contributing factor to the Blues’ injury crisis, which saw previous manager Graham Potter play on both sides of the World Cup. But, because the 43-year-old was already under contract with Como, Chelsea could only get him to work one day a week on a consultancy basis, flying to London every Sunday.

Calvarro was not the only employee let go from the treatment room last year, as long-serving medical chiefs Thierry Laurent and Paco Biosca, as well as groundsmen Jason Griffin and Reisse Griffin, father, and son, also left. Physios Jason Palmer and Jon Fearn left Stamford Bridge after nearly a decade of service following the World Cup.

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According to the report, physiotherapy firm Remedy spearheaded major reforms to the medical department, and Chelsea has also brought in Fearghal Kerin from Leinster Rugby and the highly regarded Dave Fevre, previously of Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, and Wigan Warriors Rugby, as consultants. More changes are expected as Boehly attempts to turn around the Blues’ fortunes.

Interim manager Lampard is on a five-game losing streak, with Chelsea scoring just one goal since Potter was fired on April 2. With six games remaining, the Blues are 11th in the Premier League table, and Lampard understands that turning things around will be difficult.

“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.”