Chelsea have been forced to re-hire former physio Jose Calvarro following a plea from players to bring him back, according to Evening Standard.

Calvarro was sacked in September after more than six years at Stamford Bridge as part of an overhaul of backroom staff by new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Long-serving medical chiefs Thierry Laurent and Paco Biosca were also sacked.

The report adds: “Calvarro joined Italian Serie B side Como, where former Chelsea captain Dennis Wise is president and ex-Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas a player.

“Chelsea players were unhappy with his departure and some felt the upheaval in the medical department was partly to blame for an injury crisis that hit the squad before the World Cup.

“They asked the club to bring Calvarro back, but he was already tied into a contract with Como and, in January, Chelsea were only able to agree a deal for him to return for one day a week as a consultant. Since then, he has flown to London to work with the team every Sunday.

“The wide-scale staff changes are viewed as a factor in the Blues’ poor season.”