Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that he will play a strong side against Bradford City as they want to avoid a replay or possibly a defeat at the hands of the League One side in the FA Cup fourth round.
Mourinho was in a good mood as he has a full squad to choose from and said, “At this moment we have all the reasons to be smiling because we dona t have injuries.
He also added that he will select a team that will prove Chelsea’s desire to win the game and go to the next round, “My team tomorrow will reflect the fact that if we lose the game, we are out [of the FA Cup] and if we draw we have to go to Bradford. We dona t want to be out and if possible, we dona t want a second match. My team will reflect our desire to go to the next round and the respect Bradford deserve from us. This season we have already played Championship and League One teams and I dona t remember an easy game.
“Our desire is to keep the same squad which reflects we are happy with the players and the work we did in the summer to prepare for the season, and the trust we have in the group.
Chelsea winger Mohammed Salah has been linked with a move to Serie A, but Mourinho confirmed that he will start along side German Andre Schurrle, “I like Schurrle and Salah and I need and I trust them. I cana t select the same 18 players every game and I can only start 11. Salah is not playing a lot, Schurrle is more than him, but they been involved in every competition including the Champions League. I count on them and tomorrow both are selected to play.
“The way Hazard and Willian are performing, with the stability of their performances in attack and defence and transition, unless I find a tactical system with three wingers it is difficult to be in front of them [for selection] because they are playing so well.
John Terry to be rested
Schurrle missed the Chelsea’s midweek game against Liverpool in the Capital One Cup Semifinal due to an illness but has been passed fit for tomorrow’s game. “We have a way of dealing with these little health problems. “When somebody shows the first signs of something we say go home. We prefer to lose a player who is a little doubt than risk keeping him with the other players and then losing two, three or four as a consequence. Every little problem the player goes home and the doctors take care of him at home,” Mourinho said.
Chelsea skipper John Terry is expected to be rested in tomorrow’s clash which will give Kurt Zouma some game time. Mourinho said that the centerback is far from a finished article, but the young defender is on the right track, “We bought a talent but that talent was far from ready and at the beginning of the season people were thinking it would be better for him to go somewhere [on loan] and play, but we thought It was better for him to stay and learn here in this habitat where for sure he will be a player for many years. We are very happy with him.