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

Cahill would like to have played under Lampard

Gary Cahill has told TalkSport he would like to have had the opportunity to work at Chelsea under new head coach Frank Lampard.

The former club captain left Stamford Bridge this summer after seven-and-a-half seasons and recently joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer.

Cahill played only 22 minutes of Premier League football under Maurizio Sarri last season and while he would like to have played under Lampard, he admitted it was probably the right time to leave the club.

‘It would have been very interesting to work under him [Lampard], especially when you’ve played with him and know what he’s like, it would have been an experience I would have relished,’ said the former England defender.

‘Leaving Chelsea was sad, but naturally everything has to come to an end. It was certainly the right time for me to go from that club and I have nothing but positive things to say about the club.

‘There’s no issue there. It was just naturally the right time to go. Every single year I’ve made many, many appearances throughout my career, and last year I made hardly any, so that tells it all and that it was the right time to go.’

Cahill’s limited playing opportunities last season has fired up his determination to make his mark with Palace and he hope to play a bigger role in the Premier League in this campaign.

‘I’ve got a burning desire to win football matches and play consistently well at the highest level, first of all for me and then hopefully I can rub off on the players and staff around me and try and push the club in the right direction,’ said the 33-year-old.

‘That’s the pressure I need to put on myself. I need to be as hungry as ever, which I will be because all I need to do is flip my memory to last year to give me that fire in my belly to perform.

‘I’m more than ready to go now and I’m looking forward to the season.’

Batshuayi set to stay with the Blues

The Evening Standard reports Michy Batshuayi is not looking for a move this summer and wants to stay and fight for his place in Frank Lampard’s side.

The Belgium striker has yet to play for the senior men’s team this season but he scored twice in the development squad’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

According to the paper, the 25-year-old wants to play regularly this season to ensure he makes Belgium’s squad for the European Championships next summer, but he is not going to push for a move elsewhere at this time.

‘With Chelsea’s campaign in the Champions League and League Cup beginning next month, Batshuayi hopes he will get more of a chance to impress as Lampard will have to rotate his squad,’ states the report.

‘But should he remain on the sidelines consistently over the next four months, Batshuayi is expected to consider his future.’

Kepa contends for Spain No.1 shirt

According to Goal.com, Spain’s national head coach Robert Moreno has not decided on a first-choice goalkeeper with Kepa Arrizabalaga in contention for the starting spot along with Manchester United’s David De Gea and Roma’s Pau Lopez.

Kepa has started the last three matches for his country in the Euro 2020 qualifiers after a dip in form by long-time incumbent De Gea, but Moreno insists he does not have a favourite for the position at this time.

‘My goalkeepers are De Gea, Kepa and Pau Lopez,’ said the former Barcelona assistant manager to Spanish radio station Cadena SER.

‘I like that there is competition. Kepa is not ahead of De Gea, and neither is ahead of Pau.

‘I want to get to the Euros with three goalkeepers who are ready to compete. They are all playing at a high level and there are nuances and differences between them. All three have good footwork.

‘At Barca, we won the treble alternating goalkeepers.’