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      Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, 42, jokes he is ‘on his way to Cobham’ after Lampard names retired Petr Cech in squad

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      CHELSEA legend Didier Drogba, 42, has joked he is ‘on his way to Cobham’ after retired goalkeeper Petr Cech was named in Frank Lampard’s Premier League squad.
      The Blues stunned the footballing world on Tuesday by announcing Petr Cech in their 25-man group for 2020-21.

      I’m already on my way to Cobham
      — Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) October 21, 2020

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      Drogba has joked he’s on his way back to Chelsea after Cech was named in the club’s 2020-21 Premier League squadCredit: Getty – Contributor

      And now Drogba has taken to Twitter to joke he’s going to make a comeback at Stamford Bridge as well.
      Chelsea fan Frank Khalid posted a screenshot of the squad list after Cech’s shock inclusion.
      He captioned it: “Message for @didierdrogba, get your boots on my friend.”
      And Drogba hilariously replied he was packing his boots and heading to Chelsea’s HQ.

      The 105-cap Ivorian legend replied: “I’m already on my way to Cobham.”
      Drogba retired from football two years ago following stints over the Atlantic at Montreal Impact and Phoenix Rising.
      But during two trophy-laden spells at Stamford Bridge, Drogba helped win four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League.
      The ex-Marseille man played 381 times in all, scoring 174 times.

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      Caballero and Cech are the oldest players in the Premier League

      Cech, meanwhile, has returned having played 494 times between 2004 and 2015 – winning the same trophies as Drogba, with an additional Europa League under his belt.
      Incredibly though, Cech isn’t even the oldest player at the club, let alone the league.
      Blues team-mate and fellow goalkeeper Willy Caballero is actually eight months OLDER than the 124-cap Czech legend, aged 39.
      Drogba – should his tongue-in-cheek hint come off – would still be THREE years his senior and the only player in their 40s in the Premier League at present.
      Phil Jagielka is the oldest outfield player in the Premier League this season, aged 38.
      Wes Morgan, also 38, is the oldest outfield player to see the pitch in the top-flight this term, so far.

      Chelsea name legend Petr Cech in Premier League squad with 38-year-old set for stunning comeback amid keeper woes More

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      Chelsea fans think Cech, 38, would be their BEST keeper despite retiring two seasons ago

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      PETR CECH’S inclusion in Chelsea’s Premier League squad has delighted Blues fans as they believe he is still their club’s best goalkeeper.
      The 38-year-old – who retired following the 2018-19 season after four years at Arsenal – was surprisingly named in Frank Lampard’s 25-man squad.

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      Chelsea have named legendary goalkeeper Petr Cech in their 25-man Premier League squadCredit: EPA

      Cech – who is Chelsea’s technical and performance advisor – has taken up the role as a non-contract player.

      He played 494 times for the West Londoners between 2004-2015, where he won the Premier League four times, FA Cup four times, the League Cup three times as well as winning the Champions League and the Europa League.
      The four-time Premier League Golden Glove winner will likely be Chelsea’s fourth-choice shot-stopper.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy and Willy Caballero are all understood to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

      But in an exclusive SunSport poll, supporters were given their say on who they believe is their best goalkeeper.
      And just under 60 per cent of fans would love their former star between the sticks.
      Summer arrival Mendy was second in the list with over 28 per cent, with veteran goalkeeper Caballero third with eight per cent.
      Former Athletic Bilbao ace Kepa is last with just under four per cent following a number of costly mistakes.

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      Chelsea’s Premier League squad

      Full squad, in number order…

      Kepa ArrizabalagaAntonio RudigerMarcos AlonsoAndreas Christensen – homegrownJorginhoThiago SilvaN’Golo KanteTammy Abraham – homegrownChristian PulisicTimo WernerWilly CaballeroFikayo Tomori – homegrownKurt ZoumaEdouard MendyMateo KovacicOlivier GiroudMason Mount – under-21Callum Hudson-Odoi – under-21Ben Chilwell – homegrownHakim ZiyechBilly Gilmour – under-21Reece James – under-21Cesar AzpilicuetaKai Havertz – under-21Emerson PalmieriPetr Cech

      Speaking of Cech’s inclusion in the squad, Lampard said: “It’s definitely not for the romance.
      “Pete’s been training with the keepers for a little while. He’s very fit and still relatively young.
      “Pete finished playing when he could have probably carried on and taken on his role at Chelsea, which he does very well.
      “We had a space in the squad and this year is like no other because of Covid and what it might do to selection and isolation. So it was an easy one.
      “Pete will still do his day job but he’s there if we need him.
      “Whether we see him or not I’m not so sure. It depends how the season goes with Covid and isolations.

      “I certainly felt it was a no brainer to have Pete in the squad for that reason and he can only help the goalkeepers we have. He’s one of the best in the world in the modern era.
      “If we’re in crisis we couldn’t ask for anything much better than having Petr Cech around.
      “I don’t expect it but nobody expected what we’ve seen in the last six or seven months around the world.”

      Chelsea name legend Petr Cech in Premier League squad with 38-year-old set for stunning comeback amid keeper woes More

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      Chelsea name retired Petr Cech in Prem squad with 38-year-old available for sensational comeback amid keeper woes

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      CHELSEA have sensationally named 38-year-old club legend and technical director Petr Cech in their 25-man Premier League squad list.
      Although Chelsea have well-documented keeper issues, naming Cech, who played 494 times for Chelsea between 2004 and 2015, will raise many eyebrows.

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      Petr Cech has been working with new keeper Edouard Mendy in training but he could now rival himCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Cech is also trying to restore Kepa’s confidenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Czech star retired at the end of the 2018-19 season after a four-year spell with Chelsea rivals Arsenal.
      But Cech was revered around Stamford Bridge and was brought back as technical director by chief exec Marina Granovskaia.
      A statement on the Chelsea website attempted to explain why the goalkeeping great had been brought out of retirement.

      It read: “Petr Cech has been included in the squad as emergency goalkeeper cover.

      “This is a precautionary step due to the unprecedented conditions currently caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
      “He takes up a position as a non-contract player.”
      Speaking after Chelsea’s 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla, boss Frank Lampard insisted he would be happy to use his former team-mate if required.
      He said: “It’s definitely not for the romance.

      “Pete’s been training with the keepers for a little while. He’s very fit and still relatively young.
      “Pete finished playing when he could have probably carried on and taken on his role at Chelsea, which he does very well.
      “We had a space in the squad and this year is like no other because of Covid and what it might do to selection and isolation. So it was an easy one.
      “Pete will still do his day job but he’s there if we need him.
      “Whether we see him or not I’m not so sure. It depends how the season goes with Covid and isolations.

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      Cech won four Premier League titles and a Champions League as Frank Lampard’s team-mate at ChelseaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “I certainly felt it was a no brainer to have Pete in the squad for that reason and he can only help the goalkeepers we have. He’s one of the best in the world in the modern era.
      If we’re in crisis we couldn’t ask for anything much better than having Petr Cech around.
      “I don’t expect it but nobody expected what we’ve seen in the last six or seven months around the world.”
      Seeing his name on the squad list will only increase pressure on under-fire Kepa after the latest in a long line of errors.
      He deputised for new signing Edouard Mendy in the 3-3 draw with Southampton at the weekend but combining with Kurt Zouma allowed Che Adams to finish.

      Last season the £72 million club-record signing was replaced numerous times in the starting XI by now-third choice Willy Caballero, who is eight-months OLDER than Cech.
      And boss Frank Lampard had seemingly seen enough and raided Rennes for £22m Mendy this summer.
      All three keepers are on the squad list, along with elder statesman Cech.
      Unsurprisingly after his showing at the weekend, Kepa was dropped for the Blues’ Champions League game against Sevilla, with Mendy rushed back from injury and takes his place between the sticks.

      Chelsea’s Premier League squad

      Full squad, in number order…

      Kepa ArrizabalagaAntonio RudigerMarcos AlonsoAndreas Christensen – homegrownJorginhoThiago SilvaN’Golo KanteTammy Abraham – homegrownChristian PulisicTimo WernerWilly CaballeroFikayo Tomori – homegrownKurt ZoumaEdouard MendyMateo KovacicOlivier GiroudMason Mount – under-21Callum Hudson-Odoi – under-21Ben Chilwell – homegrownHakim ZiyechBilly Gilmour – under-21Reece James – under-21Cesar AzpilicuetaKai Havertz – under-21Emerson PalmieriPetr Cech

      Cech is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League era – where he has kept a record 202 clean sheets – and among Chelsea’s greatest ever players.
      His 494 appearances in all competitions for the Blues is beaten by only six other players and he holds numerous goalkeeping records at Stamford Bridge.
      During his first spell with the club he won four Premier League titles, three League Cups, four FA Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League.

      Most expensive flop XI in Premier League history – including Sanchez, Kepa and Torres More

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      Chelsea legend Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink writes off club’s title chances and slams Lampard’s ‘leaking’ defence

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      FORMER Chelsea star Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink has written off his old club’s title chances due to their ‘leaking defence’.
      Frank Lampard’s side looked on course for three points in their Premier League clash against Southampton at the weekend.

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      Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink believes Chelsea’s weak defending will cost them any chance at winning the titleCredit: Sky Sports

      But Saints defender Jannik Vestergaard pinged home a 92nd-minute equaliser for a 3-3 draw and a point apiece.
      The game also included yet another howler for Blues keeper Kepa, who was in for the injured Edouard Mendy.
      And Hasselbaink, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, thinks defensive weaknesses will put paid to any title challenge.

      He said: “No, Chelsea are not contenders [for the title].

      “They are leaking too many goals. It is a breath of fresh air to see them going forward with the likes of Mason Mount and Werner.
      “But the defence is a worry, if they cannot improve the centre-backs and goalkeeper it is a concern.
      “Alisson wins Liverpool points, but that doesn’t happen with Kepa. Chelsea need to improve in that area.”
      Mendy is likely to be rushed back from injury to replace Kepa, with the Senegal international in line to play against Sevilla in the Champions League.

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      Chelsea threw away the chance to bag three points against Southampton at the weekendCredit: PA:Press Association

      While Hasselbaink was scathing of the Blues’ woes at the back, he was full of praise for the attacking players.
      And one in particular got the 48-year-old raving.
      Timo Werner scored twice in the Southampton draw, his first two Premier League goals since joining from RB Leipzig for £53m this summer.
      Hasselbaink, who knows a thing or two about scoring with 88 goals in 177 appearances for Chelsea, added: “He is the real deal.

      “He is very sharp, he turns the centre-back quickly, and there is only one thing in his mind.
      “He is not somebody who likes to play with back to goal, he likes to see it and make the run on the shoulder of the centre-backs.
      “I like him when he plays through the middle, he does drift to the left, and then comes back to the middle, he is a top striker.
      “His runs are limited if he plays on the left as he can only cut back in, he is more restricted and he likes to be free and make runs off the shoulder.
      “I didn’t like to play with my back to goal, I couldn’t do it. For me what I have seen of him, he is the real deal, he doesn’t care how they go in.”
      Hasselbaink was the special studio guest as he watched his old club Leeds lose 1-0 to Wolves at Elland Road.

      Frank Lampard says he is frustrated in Chelsea vs Southampton post-match press conference More

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      How Chelsea could line-up against Sevilla with Mendy still OUT and Kepa to keep place, Silva back and Ziyech to start

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      CHELSEA host Sevilla on Tuesday night in their Champions League season opener.
      Frank Lampard will likely have one eye on Saturday’s huge Premier League clash with Manchester United.

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      How Chelsea will likely line-up to take on Sevilla

      But the Blues chief will send out his best available XI to take on the reigning Europa League champions at Stamford Bridge.
      Worryingly for Lampard though, Edouard Mendy looks set to miss another game having sat out the 3-3 draw with Southampton.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga started between the sticks for the six-goal thriller – and endured another horror afternoon.
      The £71.6million goalkeeper will likely retain his place for the game against Sevilla, with Willy Caballero waiting hopefully in the wings.

      Elsewhere, though, Chelsea have a full-strength squad but for young Billy Gilmour, who is likely to miss out until Christmas.
      Reece James should reclaim his starting spot at right-back at the expense of Cesar Azpilicueta.
      Thiago Silva will return to the XI having missed the Saints draw through jet-lag having been in the Brazil squad during the international break.
      Kurt Zouma is set to start alongside the mega-experienced centre-back, with Fikayo Tomori and Andreas Christensen batting him for a place.

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      How Lampard could send out his Chelsea troops on Tuesday

      N’Golo Kane and Jorginho will likely continue with their deep-lying midfield pairing for the Sevilla tie.
      That will free up Kai Havertz to roam around behind the striker in the No10 spot.
      Hakim Ziyech is being tipped to start his first game, having featured off the bench against Southampton.
      The ex-Ajax ace could take Christian Pulisic’s spot on the right-wing, with mason Mount continuing his solid form from the left.
      It is possible Lampard opts to start BOTH Ziyech and Pulisic, either dropping Mount deeper or even to the bench in a rare axe for the England youngster.
      Timo Werner is almost certain to lead the line, with Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud providing a boost off the bench if needed.
      Chelsea take on Sevilla at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday October 20, with kick-off at 8pm.

      Frank Lampard says he is frustrated in Chelsea vs Southampton post-match press conference More

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      Chelsea’s failed wonderkids who failed to make the grade and where they are now, including Kakuta, McEachran and more

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      IT is all about the kids at Chelsea these days.
      Tammy Abraham is leading the line, Mason Mount is the creative force and boss Frank Lampard is purring over recent England call-up Reece James.

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      Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is giving youth a chance at Stamford Bridge Credit: EPA

      But this is a club who have been known for nabbing and nurturing some of English football’s finest, only for them to fail to make the grade.
      SunSport takes a look back at seven of the most memorable boy wonders who shone bright early on before burning out.
      GAEL KAKUTA
      The name will remain synonymous with off-field controversy at Stamford Bridge, but Kakuta was once the brightest young thing at the club.
      Chelsea were hit with a 16-month transfer ban by Fifa in 2009 for allegedly inducing Kakuta to break his contract with French club Lens in 2007.

      The move appeared to be worth it as Kakuta won Academy Player of the Year, finished top scorer for the youth side and won the U19 European Championship with France.
      When he made his first-team debut in 2009 after a four-month ban from Fifa, a Mail on Sunday article was headlined: “Chelsea’s new wonder boy worth all the fuss”.
      A decade later, Kakuta signed with French club Amiens in what is the 13th professional club of his career.

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      Gael Kakuta signed with Chelsea in 2007 but now plays for French club Amiens, pictured right
      The 28-year-old went out on loan to six clubs during six years with Chelsea’s first-team before eventually moving on to Sevilla.

      There were a couple of years in China and a return to Spain before switching to France.
      Embarrassingly, Kakuta was embroiled in a court case in 2014 when a broke former footballer masqueraded as him to fund a luxury lifestyle.
      Medi Abalimba was jailed after racking up huge bills in hotels and nightclubs pretending to be the Chelsea star.
      Abalimba was released from jail and earlier this year was seen kissing Love Island star Georgia Steel.
      At the beginning of the season, Amiens loaned Kakuta to Lens.
      JOSH MCEACHRAN
      Back in 2010, a 17-year-old McEachran emerged as the brightest young talent in the Chelsea academy.
      The Blues fought off the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United to sign the teenager.
      McEachran was expected to evolve from starlet to star at Chelsea and, in turn, be the successor to Frank Lampard’s crown in midfield.

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      Josh McEachran was expected to become a Chelsea superstar and had an ill-fated spell at Brentford
      Then England U21s boss Stuart Pearce said: “He’s got a really outstanding talent, similar to Jack Wilshere, and it bodes well for England.
      “If Josh and Jack were wearing Spanish shirts, you would revere them.”
      The arrival of Andre Villas-Boas to Stamford Bridge in 2011 brought an end to McEachran’s progression and he sought opportunities on loan.
      He was sent out to five clubs in three years, from Watford to Wigan, but struggled to settle at any.
      In 2015, he broke free of Chelsea’s loan army and joined Brentford on a permanent deal, a move which had highs and lows until his release this summer.
      McEachran, now 27, is playing for Birmingham City.

      BERTRAND TRAORE
      The repercussions of Traore’s move to Chelsea in 2013 was felt last summer at Stamford Bridge.
      Lampard’s inability to make any signings when the Blues were slapped with a transfer ban was due to Traore’s arrival back in 2013.

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      Bertrand Traore, pictured right with Lyon, ended up playing just 16 times for Chelsea
      Traore’s move to Chelsea was one of the key components in Fifa’s evidence as part of an investigation into the club’s signing of foreign players under the age of 18.
      Fifa said it found breaches in 29 cases out of the 92 investigated.
      In the end, Traore played just 16 times for Chelsea and departed for Lyon in an £8.8m move in 2017.
      In France, he impressed scoring 21 goals in 87 games for the club.
      His return to form earned Traore a summer move to Aston Villa for a fee believed to be around £17million.
      SLOBODAN RAJKOVIC
      When a 16-year-old Rajkovic signed for Chelsea in 2005, it was seen as a giant coup.
      The centre-back, tipped to succeed John Terry in defence, had spent the previous summer at Arsenal’s youth camp.
      The majority of Europe’s big beasts were looking to sign the talented defender, including Man United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan and Monaco.
      A work permit stalled Rajkovic’s progression at Chelsea so he was sent to Holland on loan, to PSV, Twente and then Vitesse Arnhem.

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      Slobodan Rajkovic was wanted by Europe’s biggest clubs and enjoyed a stint at Palermo
      Villas-Boas gave the Serbian centre-back his first start for Chelsea, in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wycombe Wanderers in 2011.
      The same year Rajkovic was sold to Hamburg in a £1.8m deal.
      His career never really ignited, making just 42 appearances for the German side in four years.
      Rajkovic spent three years with Italian club Palermo but was released after Palermo finished bottom of Serie B.
      The boy once wanted by all is now plying his trade in Russia with FC Lokomotiv Moscow.
      DOMINIC SOLANKE
      Jose Mourinho made it clear how much potential Solanke had at Chelsea.
      Back in 2014, in his second stint as Stamford Bridge boss, Mourinho named Solanke in a list of players who would be representing their countries in a few years.
      “In this moment, we have players who will be Chelsea players.  And when they become Chelsea players, they will become England players, almost for sure,” Mourinho said.
      Quite understandable given Solanke success in the youth ranks.
      He was England’s Youth Player of the Year in 2014, Chelsea’s Academy Player of the Year the following season and earned his first-team debut aged just 17.

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      Solanke was Chelsea’s academy star striker but ended up being sold to Liverpool before joining Bournemouth

      Solanke was the prolific goalscorer who helped Chelsea to successive FA Youth Cups in 2014 and 2015, as well as a Uefa Youth League.
      But two years ago, at the age of 19, Solanke opted for a new beginning having not seen first-team opportunities come his way.
      He headed for Merseyside with Liverpool where he made 21 appearances in Jurgen Klopp’s first-team but only scored on the final day of the 2017-18 season.
      Bournemouth forked out a whopping £19m for the 23-year-old last year, which showed there is still expectation over his potential.
      ISLAM FERUZ
      Liverpool star Andrew Robertson once described Feruz, his then team-mate at Celtic, as the “golden boy” of the Scottish youth football.
      Feruz was plucked away by Chelsea in 2011, aged 15, to be another star at the club’s Cobham academy.
      But such promise didn’t translate into success for the striker as he was sent out on loan to Crete, Blackpool, Hibernian, Royal Excel Mouscron and Swindon Town.

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      Islam Feruz is now without a club having been known as the ‘golden boy’ of Scottish football
      And when his contract at Chelsea came to an end in 2017 he was released.
      Despite only being 25 years old, Feruz has now been without a club for two years and set up a baseball cap brand in the meantime.
      Over five years as a Blues player, and sent on as many loans, Feruz made just 20 professional appearances and scored no goals.
      Chelsea deemed the striker, once the darling of Scottish youth football, to have lost his potential.

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      Declan Rice should fight off Chelsea transfer interest and become West Ham’s own ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’, says Pearce

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      DECLAN RICE has been urged to stick around and become West Ham’s very own ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’.
      The Hammers held on to their best all-rounder in the transfer window despite growing interest from other clubs.

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      Declan Rice has been urged to become a legend at West Ham like current captain Mark NobleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Hammers coach Stuart Pearce reckons the England star can become a hero at the IronsCredit: EPA

      And first-team coach Stuart Pearce reckons the lure of short-term glory at one of England’s big-spending elite is not the only factor to consider in your career.
      Pearce was captain of Nottingham Forest for 11 years and won 78 caps for England.
      Two League Cups and an old Division One trophy accounts for his haul of silverware — but the wholehearted left-back is remembered as a lion of the English game.

      Pearce, 58, believes in following your heart and not always your head to get the best out of your time as a player.
      He said: “Put it this way, I’m probably testament to that. I played my football where I enjoyed playing football and turned money down to stay where I was happy.
      “My biggest driver was probably playing for the national team. I get the same impression now with Dec — he is intensely proud of representing England.
      “He’ll make his own decisions but we are lucky at West Ham to have a current captain called Mark Noble who has been here for a number of years and has shown great loyalty to the club.

      “I like to think Dec will be at West Ham for years to come, leading the club on to success.”

      Chelsea were the top spenders in the Premier League this summer

      The Eastenders picked up Rice when he was released by Chelsea aged 14 and he is now the cornerstone of the team — earmarked as a future captain for club and country.
      ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’ is the slogan synonymous with Chelsea’s formidable former skipper John Terry, whose career will be tough to emulate.
      Rice, 21, has stepped in for West Ham’s one-club man Noble at times but is earmarked for the job full-time eventually — and he should take the armband again at Tottenham tomorrow.
      Pearce said: “To be a captain, what you need in abundance is unselfishness.
      “You have to understand when it is good for the team, even when it hurts your pride.
      “Declan is an unselfish individual who puts the team before himself. That says it all at such a young age.
      “He is prepared to do jobs for the team as most leaders are and that will benefit the team.

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      How the PL’s best transfer XI for this summer could look
      “I wouldn’t say it stifles his game but he is prepared to do that for the greater good. In the position he plays in especially, we ask for restraint from him.
      “All the excitement and all the glamour is at the front end of the pitch in the main.
      “All the hard jobs and the clean sheets and the dirty work is at the back end of the team and that is the way the game is.
      “We know he has more goals in him than his record suggests.
      “But we’re asking him to do a job for the team, which is to sit in front of the backline and knit our play together and break up play.
      “He does it not just for West Ham but for England, too, and that tells you everything. That he does it at the age he is. He is still a very, very young man in footballing terms.
      “I don’t think it was in doubt that our football club wouldn’t sell him.
      “He’s a fantastic young prospect at the club and is integral to everything David Moyes wants to achieve here.

      “His value can only go up, it can’t go down.”
      Pearce has just written his second book — ‘Never Stop Dreaming’ — a personalised account of the run-up to and through the emotive 1996 European Championship.
      He is as famous for slamming a penalty past Spain in the quarter-final shootout as he is for missing from the spot against Germany at the World Cup in Italy six years earlier.
      Pearce is revered for being uncompromising with words and actions on the pitch but admits current players have no idea of his memorable former life.
      He said: “Most players I coach now have no clue who I am or what I did — and rightly so.
      “My job now is man-management skills and having a good way with the players.
      “You have to be open-minded to do that. If you come in as a coach and say, ‘I did this and did that’ it won’t help.”

       LIKELY LINE-UPS – Spurs vs West Ham – Sunday 4:30pm kick-off
      WEST HAM: Fabianski, Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaka, Soucek, Rice, Bowen, Fornals, Antonio.
       SPURS: Lloris, Doherty, Dier, Sanchez, Reguilon, Winks, Ndombele, Bale, Bergwijn, Son, Kane.

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      Frank Lampard confirms Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy OUT of Southampton clash – but refuses to name Kepa in starting XI

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      FRANK LAMPARD confirmed Edouard Mendy will miss Chelsea’s game with Southampton tomorrow but refused to name Kepa as his replacement.
      The Blues’ new stopper got injured on international duty with Senegal and will likely be out for two weeks.

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      Edouard Mendy will miss Chelsea’s game with Southampton on SaturdayCredit: Reuters

      But Lampard remained coy on who would take his place at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
      Earlier today, Lampard said: “Mendy won’t be fit for the match tomorrow.
      “We hope it won’t be too long.”

      Quickly pressed on whether Spanish outcast Kepa or alternative backup Willy Caballero would step in, Lampard kept his cards close to his chest.

      He simply replied: “I’ll make that decision myself for tomorrow.”
      The Blues host Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday before a Premier League trip to Old Trafford next Saturday so will be without their first choice keeper for two huge games after this weekend.
      Mendy picked up a thigh injury during Senegal training ahead of their friendly defeat against Morocco last Friday.
      And he headed straight back to London to start his recovery at Cobham.

      Lampard also gave updates on Chelsea’s other new signings.
      He added: “Thiago Silva after his trip is not ready to play because of the travelling.
      “Chilwell is in the squad. He has got over some of the feeling he had in his foot.
      “Pulisic and Ziyech are in the squad. Ziyech not it to start, but hopefully to get some minutes.”
      The £22m man Mendy has impressed in his first two Chelsea games against Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
      The Blues splashed out a world record fee of £71.5m for Kepa from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 but he has struggled for form since.
      He was dropped on several occasions last season but the 26-year-old is refusing to let it get him down.

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      Frank Lampard refused to say whether Kepa would play insteadCredit: Reuters

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      The Blues boss will choose between Kepa and alternative backup Willy Caballero Credit: AFP or licensors
      Speaking on international duty with Spain recently, he said: “I feel good, strong, and confident.
      “Perhaps it is not a dream situation, but during the soccer career sometimes you have to live moments like this.
      “I’m confident I can turn it around and do my best when I play.
      “We all want to play. But I don’t think about anything beyond the day-to-day life and focusing on the national team’s matches.
      “We have three matches and my focus is on them.
      “In the life of a footballer there are ups and downs, but in the end what is in my hands is to work.”

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