Ramires: Mourinho can count on me

Chelsea midfielder Ramires has revealed that a phone conversation with new manager Jose Mourinho has him raring to go ahead of next season.

The 26-year-old Brazilian was an ever-present during the 2012-13 campaign, making 61 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions.

Ramires was a surprise omission from Luiz Felipe Scolari’s FIFA Confederations Cup squad but the break has given him a needed rest and refreshed him ahead of the new campaign.

And Ramires, who revealed Mourinho tried to sign him twice previously, said that a discussion with the Portuguese boss has him confident about the club’s future prospects.

“Mourinho called me a few days ago, which was a surprise for me,” Ramires told The Daily Mirror.

“He said a lot of nice things, including the fact he tried to sign me from Benfica when he was at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

“Mourinho told me he was very happy to have me at Chelsea. I was very glad to hear that and told him he can count on me.

“I said, ‘I’ll do everything in my power to help you be victorious in this new spell at the club’.

“Knowing how much he wanted to work for me made me even more motivated for next year. I have a feeling it will be a very good feeling for us.”