Flo enjoying key role to put Chelsea kids on pathway to first-team

Tore Andre Flo says he spends a lot of time talking to the coaches of loan players he looks after for Chelsea to aid their development. Flo is enjoying his new role at Chelsea where he oversees the loan spells of seven young players that are advancing their football education away from Stamford Bridge.
The Norwegian, who scored 47 goals in 156 matches for the Blues between 1997 and 2000, lifted five titles for Chelsea under Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli.
So he knows what it takes to reach the top and tries to pass on his experience to the young hopefuls that have been placed under his wing.
The 46-year-old told NTB: “I travel a lot. I meet the loan players I am responsible for, there are seven players. In addition, I meet the coaches of the clubs, and then we sit down to chat. What works? What needs to improve the player? I spend a lot of time with the coaches talking about how we can develop the player to be the best possible.”
The goal for the likes of Ethan Ampadu (at RB Leipzig) and Ike Ugbo (at Roda JC) is to come back and have the same impact on the first team that Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, who were both on loan to Derby County last season, have managed.
Ugbo, 21, has scored six goals in 12 league matches in the Dutch second tier and will try to follow in the footsteps of Tammy Abraham, who hit 25 in the Championship for Aston Villa last term.
Having previously spent time at the likes of Barnsley, MK Dons and Scunthorpe United, Ugbo revealed that a move abroad has been a big positive for him. “It is one of the best starts I have had so far in all of my loan spells,” he told Goal. “Everyone is looking after me here, while people at Chelsea are keeping in contact with me. I have Tore Andre Flo who comes to my games sometimes. The loan staff watch all the games and keep in contact. They send me clips of what I need to work on and send support about what I am doing well.”
Flo, who previously worked at the Chelsea academy, knows how important his job is to both the young players and the club. “The job I have now is incredibly exciting,” he added. “I feel very fortunate to have such a job in a club like Chelsea. It’s special to me. I would like to become a coach, but it’s not something I’m thinking about now or looking for.”