Chelsea players mobbed at Japanese Starbucks

Frank Lampard signs autographs at an airport outside Tokyo.

Koji Sasahara/AP

YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Millionaire Chelsea players Petr Cech and Paulo Ferreira popped into a Starbucks for coffee after training at the Club World Cup in Japan on Tuesday and were mobbed as they waited in line.

Defender Ferreira purchased a 'Yokohama Starbucks' coffee mug as a souvenir but goalkeeper Cech opted to save his money as dozens of fans in Chelsea shirts swarmed around them.

Picking up a small size coffee, Cech asked his team mate: "Do you want to drink here or go back (to the hotel)?"

Closely watched by team security, the players patiently signed autographs and posed for photos with fans as they waited before Ferreira nervously replied: "Go back."

Japanese fans were thrilled at the surprise visit by their idols.

"Brilliant!" 21-year-old student Shohei Tanimura told Reuters. "That was lucky. I only came in for a quick coffee. Cech was huge. He's even bigger than he looks on TV."

Chelsea's jet-lagged players had just finished training ahead of Thursday's Club World Cup semi-final against Mexico's Monterrey in Yokohama.

The English side, who last week became the first holders to exit the Champions League at the group stage, are under pressure to win the tournament in the Far East.

Chelsea are expected to meet Libertadores Cup holders Corinthians in the final on Dec. 16. The Brazilian side play Egypt's Al-Ahly in Wednesday's first semifinal.

© 2013 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.