Chelsea went into lockdown ahead of tonight's clash with Manchester City. The Daily Express says manager Andres Villas-Boas has banned anybody not involved with the first-team squad from the main building at Chelsea's Cobham training ground in preparation for the City clash.

Players and staff from the reserve and youth teams were not allowed to share the canteen, gym or dressing-room facilities with captain John Terry and the rest of the Chelsea senior squad.

Striker Nicolas Anelka and central defender Alex, who have been training with the reserves after being frozen out of Villas-Boas's plans, were among those kept apart from the first-team players.

It is believed that the move was designed to ensure maximum focus and promote a tight-knit group ahead of a game that gives Chelsea the chance to reignite their title hopes.

Villas-Boas wanted to cut out any possible distractions for his team and did not want to risk Anelka or Alex causing any unnecessary problems.