Chelsea post-season tour plans set to anger national sides

Chelsea are considering a post-season tour, possibly to Japan, which will potentially alarm those national federations who have players at the London club and are due to participate in key Euro 2016 qualifiers in June.

José Mourinho revealed that the league leaders, who can extend their advantage at the top of the division with victory over Stoke City today, are in early talks over a possible week-long trip that would take place after the final home game against Sunderland on May 24th. No destination has been set for the trip, which would involve two friendlies, though the manager suggested the club's new £40 million-a-season shirt sponsorship deal with Yokohama Rubber made Japan, a 19,000km round trip, a likely venue.

Although the club is within its rights to take players on the tour, national sides are unlikely to greet the news with much enthusiasm at the end of a long season and with fixtures still to come in mid-June. – (Guardian Service)