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

Opening result flattered United: Solskjaer

According to the Evening Standard, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer admits his team’s 4-0 opening day win against Chelsea was ‘flattering’ and he is not expecting a repeat of the result when we meet them again in the Carabao Cup tonight.

The teams have gone in opposite directions since the match in August with the Blues fourth in the Premier League and on a seven-match winning run while United have managed only three wins in their worst start to a league campaign in 33 years.

Speaking ahead of the rematch at Stamford Bridge, Solkjaer said the performance of Frank Lampard’s side on the day was not reflective of the final scoreline.

‘I think Frank has done a good job because the performance against us was good. The result was bad,’ said the Norwegian.

‘We held our hands up as well and said: “4-0? Yeah, flattering”.

‘We were pegged back, they pressed us, but we scored two goals, the second and the third within a minute which decided the game for us, so we didn't think we were 4-0 better than them but it's going to be an interesting game [on Wednesday].’

Chelsea duo feature high in player power rankings

Christian Pulisic and Willian have made the top six in Sky Sports’ player power rankings which is heavily dominated by Leicester City players.

Pulisic’s hat-trick in our 4-2 win at Burnley saw the American take fourth spot in the weekly chart while Willian is in sixth place after he scored one and set up Pulisic’s second goal in the victory at Turf Moor.

The Chelsea pair could have placed higher if not for Leicester’s 9-0 win at Southampton, which matched the record for the Premier League’s biggest victory. Hat-trick scorers Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez are first and third respectively in the rankings while Ben Chillwell is second after scoring one and setting up two more goals for the Foxes.

Marcos Alonso is on the fringe of the top-10 after the Spaniard was placed 11th, marginally behind Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul who made two penalty saves against Manchester United.

Smith won’t stand in Terry’s way

According to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith says he will not stand in the way of John Terry if his assistant coach wanted to leave to become a manager elsewhere.

Delivering a talk to Birmingham City University, Smith said he would not stop anyone working under him from going for a better position.

‘If my assistant now, JT, came to me and said, “Gaffer, I've got a job in the Premier League”, I'd say go for it - and that would be my advice to him,’ said Smith who has been working closely with the Chelsea legend for the past 12 months.

‘If it's right, go for it. Makes sure it's right first, make sure they adopt a strategy but go for it because, otherwise, I'll be holding him back and that's not what my role is.

‘My role is to make the whole place better. If people see how you're respecting other people in your staff then they will start working harder and harder and it just becomes a union.’