These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Cole taken aback by Mourinho’s new job

Ashley Cole has told TalkSport he was surprised Jose Mourinho decided to take charge of Tottenham Hotspur and suggested it would be a tough test for the former Chelsea manager.

Our former left-back played under Mourinho during both of his spells in charge at Stamford Bridge and did not expect the Portuguese would take charge of one of the Blues’ biggest rivals.

‘I’m a little bit shocked to be honest,’ said Cole. ‘Obviously he was a Chelsea man and then went to Manchester United, and now he’s back.

‘I appreciate the work he did at Chelsea and what he tried to do at Man United, and this is going to be a tough test for him. It is something different for him.

‘But I think he will do well; he is a great coach and a great manager.’

Having played for both Arsenal and Chelsea, Cole has some understanding about the decision to join a big rival of your former club.‘I am in shock a bit, but he said he wanted to come back and work and I think it’s a great job for him, to be honest,’ added the former England defender.‘When people talk about that sort of stuff, when they talk about rivalry, at the end of the day he wants a job and wants to get back into work.’

Azpilicueta wishes Mourinho well

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has put aside our rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur to wish Jose Mourinho the best of luck after the announcement he is to become Spurs’ new manager.

The Spaniard played under Mourinho during his second spell as manager of the Blues from 2013 to 2015, winning the Premier League and League Cup under the Portuguese.

‘I can talk only when Jose was here at Chelsea with us,’ Azpilicueta told Sky Sports.

‘We won trophies, and now football moves on. I wish him all the best even though he goes to a rival. I have good memories with him and I have played many times under him and against him.‘Obviously when we play against each other we both want to win for our teams - but this is football. I wish him well.’Technical and performance advisor Petr Cech, who won three Premier League titles under Mourinho, echoed Azpilicueta's comments.‘He's a great manager and obviously it's great for the Premier League to welcome back one of the most successful managers of the past 15 years, so obviously we wish him well,’ he said.

Blues have option to recall Gallagher

The Sun reports Chelsea are likely to allow Conor Gallagher to see out the season at Charlton Athletic despite having an option to recall the teenager from his loan spell at the Valley in January.The 19-year-old has impressed for the Championship side this season and also made his mark on the international scene with a fine strike for England Under-21s in a 3-0 win over Albania last week, which the Sun suggests could lead the Blues to cut short his loan.‘There is a break clause in the deal meaning the Blues could call him back when the transfer window opens,’ states the report.‘Should the West Londoners activate it, they would be able to loan or sell Gallagher elsewhere in January. There would even be the option to add him to Frank Lampard’s’s first-team squad.’

However, the paper feels he will probably continue his development in south London for now.‘The likelihood is he will stay at the Valley where Chelsea’s Academy Player of the Season for last term is rapidly improving under Lee Bowyer,’ it adds.‘Yet his speedy progress will not have gone unnoticed by his parent club, who will have been impressed by his excellent first start for the England Under-21s in Albania on Friday.’