Chelsea players encountered controversy in the second round of the UEFA Cup , when they were due to face Hapoel Tel Aviv on 18 October 2001 . Six Chelsea first-team players - Albert Ferrer , William Gallas , Emmanuel Petit , Graeme Le Saux , Eidur Gudjohnsen and captain Marcel Desailly - did not fly to Israel due to fears since the September 11 attacks in the previous month and recent Palestinian insurgency . Chelsea lost the match 2-0 , with Desailly 's replacement , the Ugandan teenager Joel Kitamirike , making mistakes in his only match for Chelsea . The six players returned for the second leg at Stamford Bridge , but a 1-1 draw saw Chelsea eliminated by an underdog for the second consecutive season
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
2001–02 Chelsea F.C. season