Mario: Usual controversy (BenRadford/Allsport)

A few hours after Jody Morris and John Terry face charges of affray and assault causing actually bodily harm, Chelsea will tonight try to focus on their Worthington Cup semi-final.

An ankle injury has ruled Morris out of the first leg against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge but Terry is likely to play as the club show support for their most promising young player.

Holland international Mario Melchiot admitted: 'It hasn't been an easy week for Chelsea off the pitch with regard to the incident involving John and Jody. But the players are professional enough not to let that affect our performance on the pitch.

'Everybody has his own private life but when we're together as a team, we care about the team and not our private lives.'

Melchiot added on his icons website: 'To be honest, this is not the first time we have been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The players have to ignore the fuss because what happens on the field is all that concerns the squad.

'I don't think these problems concern just Chelsea players or all young players. In England there are many instances like this that hit the headlines. The high profile of the Premier League makes it obvious that we are all under intense scrutiny.'

Chelsea's off-field problems have overshadowed some of their on-field successes this season, their presence in a semi-final being evidence of a team capable of great one-off performances.

Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has been behind many of those performances and, at the age of 28, still harbours hopes of becoming one of the world's great keepers.

Cudicini, hoping to make his first appearance in a cup final, has kept his place in the first team despite Mark Bosnich and Ed De Goey returning to fitness.

The former Milan trainee hopes to follow the example of his father, Fabio, fondly remembered as one of the best goalkeepers ever to grace the San Siro.

Cudicini said: 'My father's career really took off when he moved to Milan at the age of 32 and then he won everything. He played in the European Cup Final in 1969 at the age of 34, so there is still hope for me that I can win trophies as well.'

While Chelsea may see the Worthington Cup as a nice extra, Spurs believe giving Glenn Hoddle his first trophy as Tottenham manager is important for the future.

Veteran striker Les Ferdinand said: 'Winning that first cup for any manager is really important. Glenn has done a tremendous job but getting that first bit of silverware on the table as quickly as possible is crucial.

'It gives you space to think about the future, time to build things and gets everybody on your side. If we can get into Europe it will help Glenn bring new players to the club next summer.' Gus Poyet will make an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, playing against a former club for the first time in his career.

The Uruguayan, suspended for September's Premiership meeting with the team he left in the summer, said: 'It will be different and everything will be new to me.

'I don't have any regrets about the move, especially because of the people I have now found at Spurs. I had a meeting with Chelsea and, at that moment, I realised they didn't want me.'

Poyet is capable of punishing Chelsea for their ingratitude towards a midfielder who scored 49 goals over his four seasons in a blue shirt, particularly given their notorious inconsistency.