Zola, 33, will sit down with the Chelsea manager as soon as the Cup Final is over and decide if he has a future at Stamford Bridge.

The Sardinian is keen to stay with Chelsea but only if he is sure he won't play a bit part in their challenge for the title next season: "There is nothing in it about me going to Turkey," the mercurial striker revealed.

"But playing is vital to me, and my confidence. It also makes me feel happy, which makes me play better.

"At the end of the season, I will discuss with the club what they want from me. I'll be 34 but I'm in very good physical condition. These are the considerations to be taken into account between Luca and me. It's difficult to say what will happen."

This is the first time that Zola has indicated his football future may be away from his beloved Chelsea.

He wants to play all the time. This is also the case for Didier Deschamps, Frank Leboeuf, Gustavo Poyet, Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu who have all failed to bow to the acceptance of Vialli rotation system.

These are players who would be automatic choices for teams bigger than Chelsea and they know it. It is this battle of wills that is gnawing away at Gianluca Vialli's managerial confi-dence.

But it is a battle that he will win. The net result could well be an exodus of key personnel during the summer. Next season's title challenge which Vialli has stated is the priority will be drawn into question, if the bulk of the dissatisfied players are sold.

Weah: Give me

another season

Liberian Striker George Weah is hoping for another tilt at the Premiership title with Chelsea next season.

AC Milan's on loan striker is desperate to prove he is one of the greatest strikers in the world by playing in the English top flight.

"To play in the Premiership would be good for me; to have the opportunity to play a full season is very important to me. Five months is not enough. With a pre-season behind me, I will show people what I can do," said the 33 year-old who plans to nab one of the two striker roles on Saturday.

"It was a great experience to play in the semi final and it will be crazy if Chelsea win. It will be a great end to the season for me. I'm fully fit."

Weah, who was brought to Stamford Bridge for the final months of the league campaign, believes that Aston Villa will be a difficult team:" They are a big team, so we have to be very careful," he said.

"But we are going to go and battle. I hope to stay and I hope to play.

Ferrer misses out to

Melchiot

Albert Ferrer has lost his race to be fit for tomorrow's Wembley showdown with Aston Villa.

The Spanish right back has failed to recover in time from an ankle injury that flared up in last week's 4-0 drubbing of Derby County.

"I could not run on Monday," said the right back. "And if by Thursday it was not 100 percent then I will not play.

"It will be my decision, I don't want to let the team down."

The 29-year-old confirmed that missing Wembley will also mean he will miss Euro 2000. "I cannot expect to be selected if I don't play in the final," a sombre Ferrer said.

"But it's Luca's decision. If he wants me to play and I'm not 100 percent, then of course I will play."

Ferrer twisted his ankle in the Champions' League match against former club Barcelona.

Saturday's match was his first since then and now his absence will mean that Dutchman Mario Melchiot will take his place.

Melchiot, a summer signing from Ajax fractured his leg twice before kicking a ball in anger for the Blues.

"I have played in a cup final in Holland, but this is something totally different," said Melchiot.

"The English FA Cup is like the final for all the world, everyone wants to play in it and be part of it," he added.

"I'm not Lyon," says Frank

Frank Leboeuf has a special reason to love the FA Cup - it gave him his first ever medal.

When I came to Chelsea, I was ready to play for an average team," he said. " But things changed so quickly and it was great for me, and I won medals for the first time ever starting with the FA Cup, It's very special."

Leboeuf then revealed that he might well stay for the re-maining period of his two-year contract.

Reports had the French World cup winning defender about to sign for Lyon, but Leboeuf scotched those re-ports: I have not been to Lyon to talk to directors, perhaps it was someone who looked like me. I shall be going to France, but only for a holiday. You might see our faces here next season," he added.

Suits you Luca

Chelsea will be the best turned out team ever to grace the hallowed Wembley turf on Saturday.

No less than Giorgio Armani jetted into Stamford Bridge to kit out the boys last week ahead of the Cup Final clash against Aston Villa.

Armani has designed a three single-breasted jacket with flat front trousers in charcoal grey wool for 48 players and staff.