Appropriately, with Halloween just a month away, London giants Chelsea are to play in Transylvania, in Romania, today against European Cup new boys CFR Cluj.
The pampered millionaire Chelsea stars have caused uproar in Romania by issuing a 35-page list of demands at their five-star hotel - which included bringing their own FOOD-TASTER.
The huge wages on offer in British football are completely unheard of in Romania.
Chelsea were beaten by Manchester United in last year's all-English European Cup Final.
Blues: We'll try the stake
Fangs go wild ... John Terry will need good cross to beat ghoulie
By VIRGINIA WHEELER
The Sun
1st October 2008
EUROPEAN CUP, GROUP A
VS
CFR Cluj VS Chelsea (Tonight, 7:45 pm British time, at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu, north western Transylvania)
CHELSEA caused uproar yesterday by taking their own FOOD-TASTER on their trip to Transylvania.
The squad flew into the heart of Dracula country for a Champions League match and got the locals’ blood up by issuing a 35-page list of demands at their five-star hotel.
The presence of the taster was ridiculed in Romania, where the London club’s stars, like captain John Terry, were branded “soft”.
A lot at stake ... Chelsea visit Transylvania for match
A worker at the exclusive Opera Plaza hotel said: “What do they think we’re going to give them — Dracula blood?
“Do they really think they’re so grand they need a food taster?
“It’s insulting, like something out of the Middle Ages.
“They are too rich and too soft.”
Local newspaper Click asked: “Are they afraid of being poisoned?”
Banned
The Blues’ huge list spells out exactly how the multi-millionaire players are to be treated and fed during their stay for tonight’s match against CFR Cluj.
They won’t be taking a bite out of anything not prepared by their own chef — full-time nutritionist Nick Broad has the entire squad on a strict diet.
Hotel staff have been banned from preparing food for the team unless they are supervised by the Chelsea chef.
One worker said: “We were told all animal cooking fats or vegetable oils had to go because the team uses only extra virgin olive oil.
Chelsea manager ... Luiz Felipe Scolari
Action Images / John Sibley Livepic
“Then they went through the whole kitchen and threw everything out that isn’t organic.
“This is a good hotel. We’re used to stars and VIPs but this lot think they’re royalty.”
The Chelsea squad, led by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, had a meal prepared by their chef at the hotel after they arrived.
Staff closed the Bellagio restaurant to the public.
But the players turned their noses up at local delicacies like ciorba soup.
thesun.co.uk
The pampered millionaire Chelsea stars have caused uproar in Romania by issuing a 35-page list of demands at their five-star hotel - which included bringing their own FOOD-TASTER.
The huge wages on offer in British football are completely unheard of in Romania.
Chelsea were beaten by Manchester United in last year's all-English European Cup Final.
Blues: We'll try the stake
Fangs go wild ... John Terry will need good cross to beat ghoulie
By VIRGINIA WHEELER
The Sun
1st October 2008
EUROPEAN CUP, GROUP A
CFR Cluj VS Chelsea (Tonight, 7:45 pm British time, at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu, north western Transylvania)
CHELSEA caused uproar yesterday by taking their own FOOD-TASTER on their trip to Transylvania.
The squad flew into the heart of Dracula country for a Champions League match and got the locals’ blood up by issuing a 35-page list of demands at their five-star hotel.
The presence of the taster was ridiculed in Romania, where the London club’s stars, like captain John Terry, were branded “soft”.
A lot at stake ... Chelsea visit Transylvania for match
A worker at the exclusive Opera Plaza hotel said: “What do they think we’re going to give them — Dracula blood?
“Do they really think they’re so grand they need a food taster?
“It’s insulting, like something out of the Middle Ages.
“They are too rich and too soft.”
Local newspaper Click asked: “Are they afraid of being poisoned?”
Banned
The Blues’ huge list spells out exactly how the multi-millionaire players are to be treated and fed during their stay for tonight’s match against CFR Cluj.
They won’t be taking a bite out of anything not prepared by their own chef — full-time nutritionist Nick Broad has the entire squad on a strict diet.
Hotel staff have been banned from preparing food for the team unless they are supervised by the Chelsea chef.
One worker said: “We were told all animal cooking fats or vegetable oils had to go because the team uses only extra virgin olive oil.
Chelsea manager ... Luiz Felipe Scolari
Action Images / John Sibley Livepic
“Then they went through the whole kitchen and threw everything out that isn’t organic.
“This is a good hotel. We’re used to stars and VIPs but this lot think they’re royalty.”
The Chelsea squad, led by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, had a meal prepared by their chef at the hotel after they arrived.
Staff closed the Bellagio restaurant to the public.
But the players turned their noses up at local delicacies like ciorba soup.
thesun.co.uk