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

Rice delighted with Mount’s success

Declan Rice has told the Evening Standard of the delight he felt at playing alongside former Chelsea Academy team-mate and best friend Mason Mount in England’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria last weekend.

The West Ham player said it was a proud moment for himself when he saw Mount coming on to replace Jordan Henderson midway through the second half at Wembley.

‘From the moment he was lined up to come on, I had a smile on my face,’ said Rice, who joined West Ham after he was released by Chelsea in 2014.

‘When he ran out to the reception he got, it was really special. I felt like a proud best friend.

‘I thought this would be the last way of us playing together again. You’d think we’d maybe rekindle at a club somewhere but for it to come with England is really special. It’s the best way to do it.’

Rice expects bigger things to come from his friend under the guidance of Frank Lampard at Chelsea.

‘I’m not surprised at all [with his form],’ he said. ‘I’ve said to loads of people he could score in every game if he wanted to.

‘I can tell he’s training with Frank and they’re working really well because he’s like a second striker, making those runs which Lampard used to do. He’s going to keep doing that at Chelsea for years.’

Jorginho committed to the Blues

Football Italia reports Jorginho is committed to Chelsea for the long term with his agent denying the possibility the midfielder would link up again with Maurizio Sarri at Juventus.

Jorginho followed Sarri to Stamford Bridge from Napoli last year and there were reports the pair would be reunited again after the coach moved to Juventus this summer.

However, Jorginho’s agent Joao Santos refuted the suggestion during a radio interview in Italy.

‘No, nothing of the sort happened,’ said agent Joao Santos to Radio Kiss Kiss.

‘We have mid-to-long-term project with Chelsea, similar to when he joined Hellas Verona and then Napoli.

‘There are five years left on his contract and let’s say he’d like to stay for at least another four years.’

Villas-Boas hits out at British media

According to TalkSport, former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has hit out at the British media, accusing journalists of portraying him as ‘arrogant’ and ‘distant’ during his time in England.

The Portuguese coach, who spent less than a season with the Blues during our 2011/12 campaign, told French broadcasters RMC Sport about his frustration at what was written about him during his spells with the Blues and Tottenham Hotspur.

‘The thing is that, sometimes, in England, people sold an image of me that’s got nothing to do with me,’ said Villas-Boas, who is now in charge of French side Marseille.

‘They portrayed me as arrogant, distant.

‘When I first arrived at Tottenham, we won a few games at the start. Things go well and I win Manager of the Month.

‘Then a newspaper says, “Andre has changed so much that now he’s in Harrods at 2pm. He’s not obsessed with work. It was my day off! I was there on my day off.

‘The journalist who wrote that saw me there by chance. It’s just incredible.’