Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo dismissed suggestions of any problems arising out of the banishment of Florent Malouda from the first-team squad.
The French international midfielder has been sent to train with the under-21 team, leading to suggestions that Di Matteo might face a similar revolt as suffered by previous manager Andre Villas-Boas.
The Portuguese had sent Nicolas Anelka and Alex away from the first team, when he first took over at the beginning of last season. Villas-Boas' insistence on giving youth a chance and trying to farm out the seniors, eventually led to his firing from the job.
But Di Matteo, who was lauded for his ability to integrate everyone into the squad after Villas-Boas left, does not believe there are any problems within the squad members, with the way Malouda has been treated. Angered by the decision, Malouda, whose contract expires next summer, had tweeted a picture of him working out with the under-21s.
"They have accepted the decision that has been made by us, and they're just going to focus on their targets for this season," the Italian manager said.
"Over the past, there's been some expression of the player to part company, but it hasn't happened.
"So we've moved forward, brought in other players and they're the ones we're going to work with this season. It was a combined decision between me and the club.
"It's obviously not an extremely positive message or decision for him, but I guess, at the end, we have to look after our own interests and that's the decision we've taken."
Malouda, nevertheless, has been included in Chelsea's 25-man squad for the English Premier League, and Di Matteo did not completely rule out the possibility of the Frenchman playing a role.
"I don't know, only the future will tell. But he's with the under-21s," Di Matteo added.
"The transfer window doesn't open again until January."
