Chelsea's foreign legion stay put

Chelsea's FA Cup stars are rumoured to be departing

The much-anticipated mass exodus from Stamford Bridge may be on hold after the club's leading foreign stars announced they want to stay.

It was widely rumoured in the national press over the weekend that next year's Chelsea side would be radically different to the one that lifted the FA Cup on Saturday.

I wanted to show that I didn't want to leave Chelsea. That was my answer, out there on the pitch

Frank Leboeuf

But Cup-winning goalscorer Roberto di Matteo, Tore Andre Flo, Gianfranco Zola, Frank Leboeuf and Gustavo Poyet have all said they want to remain with the club next season.

Other players, like Dan Petrescu, have already made clear their intention to stay put, giving boss Gianluca Vialli greater scope as he builds his squad for next season's Premiership campaign.

Transfer rumours surrounding Chris Sutton and on-loan striker George Weah sparked speculation that Vialli's foreign legion was on the march.

Doubts still remain over Didier Deschamps, Bernard Lambourde, Jes Hogh, Gabriele Ambrosetti and Marcel Desailly, with none of them making a public commitment yet.

George Weah: Heading for the US

Di Matteo said: "I've got two years left and I want to stay here at Chelsea and finish my career.

"To be honest, I enjoyed my goal in the 1997 FA Cup final more than this one.

"But we are very happy about this win ... I believe in destiny - and obviously my destiny was to end the season like this."

Flo, who sat out most of the final on the bench, said he was proud of his season and his record as Chelsea's top scorer.

"Of course, I wanted to start the cup final. But it's okay - I've started most of the big matches this year and I'm very proud of the team and what I've achieved this season.

I have never known the spirit like I have felt at Chelsea

Gianfranco Zola

"I've been thinking about the future a lot this year, but when I look at the fact that I've been playing a lot more than the previous season then I'm happy with that. Maybe next season, hopefully I will play even more."

Leboeuf simply denied that he ever said he wanted to leave.

"I wanted to show that I didn't want to leave Chelsea. That was my answer, out there on the pitch."

Zola, who has been linked to Turkish side Fenerbahce, said: "I don't know exactly what's going to happen - but the feelings I have for this club are very important to me.

"I have never known the spirit like I have felt at Chelsea. I can go many places and win many things yet, but it wouldn't be the same as here.

"For a player to be loved like I am by the fans is fantastic. I love Chelsea, I love the game here, I hope I can stay."

Poyet said it was his intention to stay until Chelsea had won the Premiership.

Meanwhile, Weah said that he had a lot of respect for Vialli and Chelsea and wanted to play one more season in Europe before rounding off his career in the United States.