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

Zola wants young stars to embrace challenge

Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has told the Daily Mail that our young players should see the arrival of big signings as an opportunity to learn from the best and improve as footballers.

Citing his own experience playing alongside Diego Maradona at Napoli, the Italian said our youngsters can gain much from training and playing with great players.

‘I would have not been the player I was if I didn't train with Diego Maradona,' he explained.

‘He was so influential on every aspect of my game. I promise you — I would have been another Gianfranco Zola if I hadn't trained and played with Maradona every day.

'I don't think John Terry would have been the player he was if he hadn't had Marcel Desailly or Frank Leboeuf in front of him with us at Chelsea.

'What makes you better is not playing every single game in a modest championship. What makes you better is playing 10 games in a very competitive league. Because of players like myself, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and so many others, the game in England is at such a high level.

'If you want to be involved you have to be as good. And then, if you are good enough, you will become very good.’

Prince William likes Chelsea’s values

Prince William has praised the values championed by Chelsea under Frank Lampard, saying the club is setting a good example for young fans, the Evening Standard reports.

The Duke of Cambridge is an Aston Villa fan but he told 'That Peter Crouch Podcast' on BBC Radio 5 that his son, Prince George, is free to choose his own team to support and that he would have no issues with him backing the Blues because of the positive impression he has of the club.

‘I do like the values and the ethos of the club. I want them to look after the players and set a good example to the young fans,’ said the Prince.

‘I want our children, when they go to the match, to come away loving what they've seen, enjoying it and seeing their role models behave in a way that we’d all want them to.’

Ba proud of quarter-final strike

Demba Ba has told FourFourTwo he takes great pride in his goal against Paris Saint-Germain which sent Chelsea through to the Champions League semi-finals in 2014 although he was determined to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of that season.

The Senegalese striker admits he was unhappy at not playing regularly under Jose Mourinho during the 2013/14 season but he turned his negativity around to make a big impression when he got the chance to play.

‘Being a young kid from the hood in Paris, growing up in poverty and then scoring the goal that took Chelsea to the Champions League semi-finals, that felt like a great achievement,’ he said.

‘I had to find a way of dealing with not starting matches. But when you don’t play and you’re surrounded by players who do, the negativity comes.

‘Near the end of that season, I decided to stop moaning, work hard until the season was done, then move on. When I stopped complaining, I started to score and play more.’

According to Ba, Chelsea tried to retain him for the 2014/15 campaign but he had made up his mind to move on and joined Turkish side Besiktas.

‘I remember having a chat with Mourinho once the season was finished, when he asked me to stay for another year. But I had already decided to go,’ he added.