Chelsea stars say ciao, au revoir

The end for the FA Cup winning Chelsea team?

Thousands of Chelsea fans were out in force around Stamford Bridge on Sunday to see their side parading in an open top bus after their 1-0 FA Cup victory over Aston Villa.

But it could be the last time the team are seen together after many high profile stars hinted they will be leaving the London club in the summer.

Striker Chris Sutton, a £10m buy from Blackburn Rovers, looks set to join Leicester after a poor season.

Romanian wingback Dan Petrescu is said to be quitting after not even being on the bench at Wembley on Saturday.

Former World Player of the Year George Weah, on loan from AC Milan, told reporters after the FA Cup final that he would be heading back to Italy.

I want to improve on the team every season and if we can sign new players in the summer then we will

Gianluca Vialli

And there have been strong rumours that defender Frank Leboeuf is heading off to French side Lens, while Italian wizard Gianfranco Zola is reported to have held talks with Turkey's Fenerbahce.

Manager Gianluca Vialli has played down reports of a wholesale clearout.

After the last ever FA Cup final under Wembley's twin towers he said: "They might be ripping the old stadium apart but I do not intend to rip my team apart.

"I want to improve on the team every season and if we can sign new players in the summer then we will.

"If not, I will keep the players I have. A lot of nonsense has been said and written about this team breaking up and that will not happen."

Inevitable

Captain Dennis Wise, the only English player in the starting line-up, believes the bulk of the team will stay together.

He said: "I don't think the team will break up in the way people are saying.

"It is inevitable that one or two may leave but that happens at every club at the end of every season.

"We have got a very good team here and I expect it to be much the same at the start of next season."