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

Former coaches expect big things of Ziyech

Two of the coaches who helped shape the career of Hakim Ziyech are expecting big things of the Moroccan when he joins Chelsea next season, Sky Sports reports.

Boudewijn Pahlplatz, who coached Ziyech at FC Twente, believes the move is coming at the right time for the 27-year-old.

‘He has played in the Eredivisie for seven or eight years now and knows all about Holland,’ said Pahlplatz.

‘The step to the Premier League will do him good. He will be playing with the best players every day and that is a new challenge for him. I think he will do well there.

‘He will have to get used to the amount of games and the physical side but in the end he will succeed, for sure.’

Meanwhile, Han de Jong, who was Ziyech’s coach in Heerenveen’s U17 side, downplayed the suggestion he would struggle in the Premier League because of his size.

‘They are still saying that he has a problem with his physicality,’ said De Jong.

‘That is what everybody is saying right now but they were saying the same when he came from the academy at Heerenveen. They said the same when he went to Twente – problem with his physicality. Same thing at Ajax. So I don’t think it’s a problem.

‘I have absolutely no doubts he is going to beat the next challenge. It is going to be great to see him excel at Chelsea.’

JT items to go up for charity auction

John Terry has told SkySports he intends to auction off some of the memorabilia from his career in order to raise funds for the National Health Service and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

After setting up a Just Giving page for Make-A-Wish and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital which has been met with an overwhelming response, our former captain hopes to continue the momentum by opening an eBay auction which will feature shirts, boots and other memorabilia from his glittering career.

‘I was sitting there being inspired by what Joe Cole was doing. I wanted to make a real difference. I've been an ambassador for Make-A-Wish for 15 odd years now and it's close to my heart,’ said the Chelsea legend.

‘I want to raise as much money as I possibly can for the NHS and Make-A-Wish. The response [to the Just Giving page] has been incredible, and in less than four days we've raised £190.000.

‘The response of the nation has been incredible and I'm really proud of that.’

Among the items being auction off by Terry are his title-winning Chelsea kits and boots as well as souvenir shirts signed by Diego Maradona and Usan Bolt.

Ref would have shown 11 red cards in 1970 final

Premier League referee Michael Oliver has told the Daily Telegraph he would have sent off several players in the 1970 FA Cup replay between Chelsea and Leeds United if he had officiated the match according to current refereeing standards.

While the match on 29 April 1970 was a physical encounter between fierce rivals, it resulted in only a single caution for Chelsea forward Ian Hutchinson as referee Eric Jennings allowed the play to flow.

Oliver felt differently though, claiming he would have sent off 11 players and shown 16 yellow cards with David Webb, Hutchinson and Charlie Cooke all receiving three cautions each.

But while Oliver would have reached for his notebook several times during the 120-minute encounter, he showed some appreciation for the manner in which the players got on with the game.

‘It's amazing to watch them - not a single player ever appeals to the referee,' he said after watching a hefty challenge on Leeds winger Eddie Gray.

‘Eddie Gray just gets up. You didn't get the reaction then that you do now. And what you also don't get is 20 more players running into the situation in the aftermath.

‘Which [nowadays] means you invariably end up with more hassle and more cards anyway.’

Look out for the full game being shown on 29 April on The 5th Stand