• Premier League

Mourinho confirms Terry, Lampard, Cole deals

John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole will be offered new contracts to extend their Chelsea careers, manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed.

The trio of serial trophy winners are out of contract next summer, with many expecting at least two of Mourinho's original Chelsea winning machine may bring the curtains down on their time at the club.

Yet the Blues boss has insisted the veteran performers will all be offered new contracts ahead of next season, as said they still have a big role to play in the club's future.

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"It's a situation that doesn't worry me, doesn't worry the club and, I think, doesn't worry the players," Mourinho said.

"Their desire to play for this club, nobody has doubts about it. We want them to feel free to express and to enjoy these last years of their careers.

"Everything is very calm and at the end of the season, probably before that, the club will sit with them, the offer will be on the table.

"Probably last season was more complicated. John was not playing, Lampard was almost signing a contract with LA Galaxy and he was not also feeling important in the team.

"In this moment the situation is very, very clear. They trust the club, we trust the players. And, for sure, without conflict, the best decision for us and for them will be taken."

Mourinho went on to confirm he spoke to Lampard when it seemed as if his Chelsea career was winding towards a close at the back end of last season.

"At that time I was Real Madrid manager, not Chelsea manager, and I gave my opinion. Just my opinion, as a friend at that time," he stated.

"The opinion was to wait. Trust yourself, wait, play. If somebody has doubts, try to show in the last part of the season how important you still can be for the club and do what you really want to do.

"If you want to stay wait, because probably you are going to stay. If, at the end of the day, you are not staying, you are free to decide."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has claimed it will be unacceptable for Chelsea to finish this season without a trophy, despite his claims that they are in the midst of a transition in the playing staff.

"We want to think that it's not acceptable (to finish without a trophy), we want to think that we have to work hard to try for that not to happen," he added.

"We are natural competitors, we are natural winners. This is the culture we want this club to have, especially our young players to understand, even if we are in a transitional period."

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