Chelsea FC manager Jos Mourinho has revealed that he does not know whether captain John Terry will be fit in time to face Tottenham Hotspur in the London derby on Sunday, but had good news regarding goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
Chelsea FC cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win in Israel on Tuesday, but suffered two injuries on their travels, which manager Jos Mourinho attributed to the less-than-ideal pitch at the Itztadion Sammy Ofer. Captain John Terry had to be substituted during the game, while the Portuguese revealed that Brazilian midfielder Ramires was injured in training prior to the game.
Mourinho had good news regarding long-term absentee Thibaut Courtois however, with the Belgian returning to first-team training recently following a meniscus injury that has kept him out of action since the beginning of September.
Mourinho retains hope that Terry will recover for Spurs clash
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Chelsea FC manager declared that he did not know whether or not his captain would be fit enough to take to the pitch at White Hart Lane in the noon kick-off on Sunday.
“a I dona t know about John,” admitted Mourinho (via chelseafc.com . ). “I dona t want to say that it is impossible he plays because maybe he plays and people will say that I was hiding it and I am not hiding. Today he didna t train but we have a little hope that it is possible.”
The Portuguese is also in the dark about the availability of midfielder Ramires, who suffered an injury during a training session prior to the game against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Mourinho said: “Ramires is the same situation as John, I dona t know, leta s wait and see. He has a chance.”
Positive news on Courtois
The Blues’ boss had good news on Belgian Thibaut Courtois however, reporting that the 23-year-old is making good progress and is now training with the first team. The goalkeeper has been out of action since the beginning of September, but is scheduled to return in the first two weeks of December according to his manager.
Mourinho said (via chelseafc.com): “Courtois is training with the team but not playing Sunday. He is making good progress.”
Last week, in his first training sessions, Courtois wasn’t allowed to dive. Now he can. Comeback coming closer. #cfc pic.twitter.com/ihHmxMh7CB
a Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) November 28, 2015
London-based Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur had further good news for Chelsea FC fans, revealing that Courtois has now been given the green signal to dive in training, indicating that a return to the starting XI is not far away.
