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

Rennes boss reacts to Champions League draw

Rennes manager Julien Stephan has told the club’s official website he is delighted his team will meet Chelsea and former goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the Champions League although he insists their main goal this season is to gain experience in the competition.

Mendy helped the French side to finish third in Ligue 1 last season as they qualified for Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in their history.

‘We are delighted because we will meet again with Edouard Mendy who recently transferred to Chelsea,’ said Stephan.

‘When we said goodbye to him, we told ourselves we would meet again very quickly during the group stage of the Champions League. It is a wish that has been granted.’

While he is pleased to have taken Rennes into the Champions League, Stephan is keen to manage their expectations for the competition.

‘Our goal is simple, it is to gain experience,’ he said

‘We had the second-lowest coefficient and I imagine all the teams are hoping to take six points against us.

‘We will try to win as many points as possible from our three opponents. We will have to play with a lot of bravery and give everything we have to give, not regret anything and we will see where it takes us.’

Cole lends more support to NHS

The BBC reports former Chelsea favourite Joe Cole has extended his support to the National Health Service by launching a garden which is designed to promote well-being at a hospital.

Located at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, the garden is planned to be the first of several in the country. The aim is to allow staff, patients and visitors to ‘connect with nature’ and ‘rest, reflect and recuperate’.

The report explains the project is being supported by Cole and his wife Carly's 11 Foundation, which works with charities on community initiatives.

‘I'm a big believer in the power of nature, even more so when we were all cooped up, for your mental health and well-being,’ explained the former midfielder.

‘There are another two more being rolled out in London and there will be more. It will blossom in the summer, it will grow and it has features like different levels which will help stroke patients with their walking rehab.’

Added his wife: ‘We recognised that gardens are desperately-needed resources at hospitals to help boost morale, improve mental health and process trauma.

‘While some NHS staff will process the impact of Covid-19 over time, many are suffering with bereavement, heightened anxiety, stress and fatigue.’

Created by designer Jo Thompson, the garden is also aimed to be a space to host health and well-being classes, treatments, cognitive therapy, mindfulness meditation and yoga.

Cole made the news in March when he was reported to have made a substantial donation to a charity supporting NHS staff throughout the UK.

Hazard suffers another setback

According to the Daily Mail, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has urged the club to be patient with Eden Hazard after the Belgian suffered an injury which has derailed his efforts to make a comeback for the Spanish side.

Sidelined by an ankle problem for much of last season, the former Chelsea star had appeared to be making good progress towards a return before he picked up a leg muscle injury in training.

‘I can't tell you how long it'll be. He picked up a bit of a knock in training before the game,' he said after his side’s 1-0 win over Real Valladolid in midweek.

‘It looked like a muscle spasm but in the end it turned out to be a bit more than that. It's something muscular. It's nothing to do with the injury he's had and these things happen.

'He's been out for a long time. I don't think this one will be long but I can't tell you exactly. He's upset because he was all right, but he's had a setback and these things can happen.

'He's not happy, he knows that it's not a big thing and we have to take it easy with him. It's a question of little time, I'm sure.'