Nathan Ake Likely to Remain at Chelsea After Jose Mourinho Talks

Chelsea starlet Nathan Ake is confident he will remain part of the first team at Stamford Bridge this season after being assured of opportunities by manager Jose Mourinho.

A total of 26 players have left the Blues on loan over the summer months including the likes of Marco van Ginkel and Tomas Kalas, youngsters who shone for the Blues during their brief chances in the first team last season.

Ake however survived the cut and although he could still leave Stamford Bridge to join a Football League club during the emergency loan window, he is confident he will remain where he is.

"He has said that he really wanted to keep me," Ake told Dutch daily De Telegraaf. "Not many boys of 19 have been playing in the base at a club, though a lot of people seem to expect that sometimes.

"I know I still have time and Mourinho is pleased with me in the first team so far. The way he says something and makes things clear in training. For example, if you withdraw your foot [in a tackle], then he gets angry. He loves people who give everything every moment."

The versatile Ake, who can operate both at centre-back and as a defensive midfielder, has also paid tribute to club captain John Terry. The Dutchman, Kurt Zouma and 18-year-old Dane Andreas Christensen are likely to supplement the first team do of Terry and Gary Cahill at the heart of defence this season and Ake sees no better mentor than the former England international.

He continued: "In a practice match against Real Sociedad [during Chelsea's preseason] Terry was in the game only by talking to me and he tried to help me. Positionally he really helps the younger guys with everything and talks to you about where you need to work on."

Having made his first team debut for the club in 2012, Chelsea have resisted loaning out Ake during his time in west London.