JOSE HOSTS UEFA

UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh visited Cobham on Thursday to speak with Chelsea manager José Mourinho, as well as finding time to talk to chelseafc.com on a range of topics.

Roxburgh, who managed Scotland between 1986 and 1993, was impressed with the facilities at our new training complex, and was keen to explain why he sought Mourinho's company.

'He's coming to a coaching forum in a couple of weeks time, which is for Champions League top coaches and I'm just preparing the ground for that. One of the things we're going to talk about is coaching methods, and also to see the new facilities,' he said.

Roxburgh also revealed he is already well clued up on Mourinho's methods.

'I know him well,' he said. 'He studied in Scotland for a while, and I'm very much in tune with the methods he uses. In a month's time we have a technical director's conference in London, and I wanted him to come and speak at that, but Chelsea have a midweek game so it won't be possible.'

With reference to the number of African players possibly on show during the Portsmouth game tomorrow, Roxburgh was quick to appreciate the rising influence these players are having on the European game.

'That's fairly obvious, in terms of numbers there's been a major influx. The interesting thing in the Champions league is that on the opening match day last season, the biggest number of players were from Brazil, I think it was something like 65. I didn't have the time to check the number of African players, but clearly there are a lot making a big impact on European club football.

'The best players in the world have been coming to play in Europe. There is no doubt, mainly because of the traditions, that it has attracted many of the best players in the world.'

Finally, as the rain poured on the lush green pitches, Roxburgh identified Cobham as a beacon for other clubs to aim for, and explained the importance of a good surface to play successful Premier League football.

'It's a beautiful facility. When all the training pitches are in place too, every pitch is like Wembley.

'The thing here is when you're dealing with top level players and you want to play at speed, then a fast surface is a key component. If it's a bad surface that simply delays what they are going to do. This is why most of the pitches in the Premier League are fantastic, and the training pitches at the top clubs are brilliant.'