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

Giroud given ‘a sign’ not to join Everton

Olivier Giroud has revealed that he turned down a move to Everton last summer due to a family friend having a dream telling him not to.

In a story by the Daily Star, the Frenchman revealed the strong influence of his mother’s friend before he signed for AC Milan in Serie A and why he rejected the chance to stay in the Premier League.

The Frenchman has been open over his faith and his belief in Christianity throughout his career and has revealed that it has even had an impact over his choices in the transfer window in recent times.

‘My faith helped me every single day, particularly when I had to make big decisions,’ Giroud explained, in a report covered by the Daily Star.

‘For example, you can understand from my book why I didn’t go to Everton and why I stayed at Chelsea instead of signing for Inter.

‘One thing I will tell you is God has got a plan for every single person on Earth. We make our path and the Lord sets the pace.

In his book Always Believe, Giroud detailed how his mother’s friend Nicole got in touch prior to the summer to warn him off a move to Everton.

‘She said “You will have to trust God regarding your future” and there was a kind of prediction that I would not get into the national team this time,’ added the striker.

‘So many things that turned out to be true, I believe those are signs from God in heaven.’

Neville praises ‘brilliant’ Mendy

TV pundit Gary Neville has heaped praise on Chelsea shot-stopper Edouard Mendy after his sensational Man of the Match performance in our 1-0 win at Brentford on Saturday.

In a story covered by the Daily Mail, Gary Neville was quick to admire the Senegalese goalkeeper in his post-match analysis.

‘He [Mendy] was absolutely brilliant,’ said Neville, when Speaking after the game on Saturday and covered in the Daily Mail’s report.

‘If you’re going to win a title then there are going to be games where you don’t play well, you don’t deserve to win the game but your goalkeeper makes two or three world class saves. He was brilliant today, Mendy.

‘It’s a lot more difficult to score against Chelsea, not just because of the change to the back five, which Thomas Tuchel brought in, but also because the goalkeeper is so strong.’

Nagelsmann reveals his admiration for JT

Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has disclosed that Chelsea legend John Terry was his ‘role model’ during his playing days.

The German, who also played centre-back in his short playing career, has spoken of the former Blues captain in an interview with The Times.

‘It was crazy, because when I was a youth player I played with [close friend] Christian Trasch,’ Nagelsmann states. ‘I called him Patrick — Patrick Vieira — because he played No 6 and he called me John Terry, ‘Johnny’.

‘In those days, Terry was one of the best central defenders — I think there was one season he did not lose one duel. He was brave with his head. I was good with my feet but better with my head, and there were some similarities, so he was kind of a role model.’

The pair first met when Terry was assistant coach at Aston Villa and Leipzig played them in a pre-season friendly. Nagelsmann led the German side to the Champions League semi-final later that campaign.

‘I talked to him for about three minutes and explained to him that I was John Terry in the early days as well. I had to explain the situation, as he looked [at me] weird!” Nagelsmann joked.