Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is furious with reports of player unrest at Stamford Bridge.

An explosive reaction came from Scolari's personal media adviser, Acaz Fellegger, who works for the Brazilian on non-club matters.

In a statement, Fellegger, said: "Luiz Felipe Scolari laments that unscrupulous individuals outside the club, acting for their own benefit or trying to make profit, tell lies to the general public through the press."

The statement, issued in Brazil, went on to deny there are any issues with players questioning Scolari's tactics and authority: "Not a single player in Chelsea's squad has contested the substitutions made in English championship or Champions League games. There has been no kind of criticism, comment or complaint from any player."

It added: "There is not the slightest foundation to information that he [Scolari] will be able to take charge of the Brazilian national team next year."

The Observer says Scolari and Chelsea are concerned that players' representatives may be leaking disruptive stories to media outlets.

The statement was later withdrawn as the club sought to limit its potential damage, but its presence in the pubic domain will do little to help Chelsea's attempts to keep all their affairs on-message, a task that proved almost impossible when José Mourinho was head coach.