Petit: Chose not to travel (BenRadford/Allsport)

In fact, while Chelsea will rely on youth team players to help make up their squad against Hapoel Tel Aviv, Ranieri was adamant the reluctant six would be included in the side to face Premiership leaders Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday.

Bates has publicly criticised Emmanuel Petit, Graeme Le Saux, Marcel Desailly, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Albert Ferrer and William Gallas for their decision to opt out of Thursday's UEFA Cup second-round, first-leg tie.

Bates mocked their stand by suggesting the Premiership visit to Elland Road will be more intimidating than a one-night visit to the Middle East.

But Ranieri is not prepared to make an example of his players. He said: 'Those who stay at home will be training and working as if there wasn't a UEFA Cup match taking place.

'I want them to be ready for the first team again when we play Leeds on Sunday. That is a big game also.

'Desailly is a doubt for Sunday as he has a problem with his achilles, but the others will be there.

'I respect the players' decisions not to come. It will not affect anything. They will not be punished by me.'

Chelsea left Heathrow on Wednesday morning with six young replacement players in their squad - some as young as 17.

Ranieri revealed that Desailly had suggested he would not travel even before the achilles injury grew too painful for him.

The other absentees have cited personal responsibilities - both Gudjohnsen and Petit's girlfriends are pregnant - as the reasons behind their decisions.

But Bates said: 'I honestly think we will have a bigger problem when we go to Leeds on Sunday than anything we will face in Tel Aviv. More intimidation, probably.

'Everybody had to make their decision and live with it. We are going to Tel Aviv on behalf of Europe and European football.

'If we hadn't come then teams would start to say: "We're not going here or we're not going there". That wouldn't be right.'

The players were not told of Wednesday's murder of Israeli tourism minister Rahaban Zeevi until they arrived.

Hapoel chairman Moshe Theumim said: 'The tragedy will not affect the game. There will be a national day of mourning but it will go ahead.'