Report: Jose Mourinho gives Chelsea players more time off

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has postponed his first team's return to training by nearly a week in an attempt to give the players more time to freshen up.

The Blues played a gruelling 69-game season last term as they finished third in the Premier League and won the Europa League.

Immediately after the season reached its end, Chelsea flew to New York to play in two friendlies against Manchester City and lost both of them.

The first team were due to return to their Cobham training complex on Wednesday of next week, but the Portuguese boss has withheld their return until Monday, July 8, according to The Mirror.

Mourinho begins his second stint in charge at Stamford Bridge with a visit from Hull City in the Premier League on August 17.