Mourinho: Back off, Avram

Jose Mourinho has told Chelsea's new director of football not interfere in team affairs.

The Blues boss issued his warning to Avram Grant as the Barclays Premier League club prepared for the first pre-season friendly of the American tour against Club America in California on Saturday.

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Chelsea appointed Grant (pictured above) late last week and the former Israel manager flew out with Mourinho and his squad to Los Angeles on Monday.

While the Portuguese coach welcomed the arrival of the man who left his role as technical director at Portsmouth, he made it clear in what areas Grant's input would not be welcomed.

Mourinho said: "I think the club was very clear in the statement they put out.

If you want to know more about his work ethic, you'll have to speak with him.

"He's here to give some support to different areas in the club and for me that

is not a problem.

"If the club wants to bring people to make the club better and to create a job

for somebody to support those different areas in the club then fine.

"From my point of view, it won't interfere with the power I have in relation

to my job. So, welcome, and I will try to help him with what happens at a club

like Chelsea."

Mourinho said he was waiting to hear on how long he would be without England

left-back Wayne Bridge, who injured a hip on international duty at the end of

last season.

"Bridge has a problem in his hip he brings from his last game with the

national team," Mourinho said.

"Yesterday, he tried to train but it was not feeling good.

"I'm not sure how he is but he is in the medical department's hands and they

have to make a good judgment of his situation and then make a decision about his

near future."

There was better news on Chelsea's other England left-back, Ashley Cole, whom

Mourinho said was set to begin training with the squad in Los Angeles next

week.

"Ashley is in the final process of his recovery," his manager explained.

"He was very professional in his holidays, which were just a week because he

was working and trying to recover during the whole period.

"We believe he can start working with the team in the US, in the middle of the

second week and so we hope he will be ready to play in pre-season matches when

we return to Europe and then start the season."