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

Blues get a B+ rating

Chelsea have earned a solid B+ from Sky Sports in its rating of all 20 Premier League teams after the first 10 matches of the 2019/20 Premier League season, although the broadcasters feel expectations will be raised after the Blues’ good recent run of form.

The rating for the Blues was bettered by only four clubs as the club were praised for our excellent start under Frank Lampard.

‘His young charges have stepped up to the plate, with academy stars Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori impressing, but old heads who came in for criticism last year - namely Jorginho and Willian - have improved too,’ started the report.

‘In August, a top-six finish would have seemed a good season for a team without their best player in the departed Eden Hazard and saddled by a transfer ban.

‘But football is a fickle game and after a run of results to raise hope - as well as the belated emergence of Christian Pulisic - it may already be a disappointment if they miss out on the top four.’

Liverpool were the only team to earn the top rating of A+, while Leicester City were given an A and Manchester City and Sheffield United were both given A-.

Burnley and Crystal Palace were tied with the Blues on B+, while Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all received Ds, and winless Watford were given an F.

Guehi tipped for ‘fine career’

The Daily Mail’s ‘Secret Scout’ believes there is much to come from Marc Guehi after the 19-year-old produced an impressive performance at centre-back in our Carabao Cup match against Manchester United on Wednesday.

While the Blues were eliminated after a 2-1 loss to the Red Devils, Guehi was praised for his solid defensive display.

‘Physically well-built to handle the challenges that come his way, Guehi has progressed quickly through the ranks at Chelsea and the Ivorian-born teenager has already attracted the attention of England's youth teams,’ said the unnamed scout, who also described Guehi as a ‘mountain of a centre-back’.

‘Sitting on the right side of his centre-back partner, he showed instant leadership. He covered well, never hesitating to give some depth to his team-mate when he was challenging for the ball in the air against the opposition striker. He also showed good speed to cover when he had to cope with a curve ball down the channel.

‘Guehi is also imposing in the air. He seemed to communicate well with his team-mates, whether sitting deep under pressure or holding a high line and showing his impressive recovery speeds. He has the potential to be class player, helped by his attitude which looks spot on.‘Competition is so tight at Chelsea now that I assume Frank Lampard will send him out on loan to develop but the Chelsea manager must already know the power and quality of this young man, who is destined for a fine career.’

Charlton assistant boss impressed by Gallagher

Charlton Athletic assistant manager Johnnie Jackson has told the Totally Football Show podcast he knew little about Conor Gallagher before he joined the club on loan but has been won over by the 19-year-old’s dedication and performances for the Addicks.

Gallagher had not played a match at senior level before he arrived on loan from Chelsea in the summer but the midfielder has settled quickly at the Valley, netting five goals and becoming a favourite with the Charlton fans.

‘I admit that before we signed him I didn’t know anything about him,’ said Jackson, who played 279 games for the club before becoming a coach.

‘Because he hadn’t previously played league football, you don’t really know what you’re going to get. But he’s been an absolute revelation: as soon as we saw him on the training pitch we knew we had a player on our hands, and then he started to play in the team and was scoring straight away.

‘His level of performance started really well and has got better.

‘I can’t speak highly enough of the boy. His attitude is brilliant, he just gets on with his job, his level of performance is something special. He’s as good as I’ve seen at that age for a long, long time.’