Ahead of his first visit to Loftus Road as a manager, Jose Mourinho discussed player availability, midfield choices and the significance of Sundaya s derby with London Rivals Queens Park Rangers.
As Chelsea edge closer to the Barclays Premier League title, QPR are scrapping for vital points at the wrong end of the table.
Mourinho was focussed on Sunday’s match against QPR as he responded to questions at the pre-match press conference at Chelsea’s Cobham training base.
The Chelsea manager confirmed star striker Diego Costa, would not be available for their trip to Loftus Road.
“Everybody else is fine and ready,” he said. “Mikel is ready; Fabregas with a mask
is ready too. No problems.”
“Diego will certainly be back,” was Mourinho’s response when asked about the extent of Diego Costaa s injury.
“We have eight matches to play, and if he plays four ita s normal. If he plays three ita s a little bit below what Ia m expecting, and if he plays five ita s a little bit more than what I am expecting. I am thinking four matches.”
The Press Conference had a lot of Japanese journalists eager to know Mourinho’s stance on Yoshinori Muto , a striker whose nam has been linked with Chelsea in the recent past.
Mourinho refused to comment on any other clubs player but let the journalists know that he knows the player , Mourinho also assured the press any player Chelsea look to sign would not be made for any commercial purposes.
Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas , both are one booking away from a two-match suspension and that could see them miss vital games with Manchester United and Arsenal and Mourinho was asked if would like to rest one of these two players.
“No” was the manager’s immediate response.
“They will both start,” he added.”Ita s always the same. We try not to get yellow cards during a match, we try to play football.”
“To give an idea, in the last match our opponent made 22 fouls, we made five a ita s been like this for almost the whole season.”
“If they have to make a foul for a yellow card a a foul you have to do a they have to do it, but the way we play ita s not easy for our players to be booked.”
“The game is a three-point game. We need points, we need victories and we cannot choose matches. It doesna t make any sense to think about some matches and not about others.”
The Special One has never managed at Loftus Road, where the fans are known for making it a noisy place to visit.
“People in the stands can play a role but they cannot score goals,” the boss pointed out.
“The referee and the assistants are there, so Ia m not worried. I go just focused on playing our game and trying to win.”
“To be top of the league since day one shows our consistency, stability, confidence and a brave approach to every game. We deserve to be there.”
“Obviously ita s very important for both teams. We know that. Nobody is expecting an easy match. Last weekend we played against a team that is very stable in the middle of the table and they were fantastic in their approach, their commitment, trying to win the match or not losing it. Thata s proper football.”
“I know QPR have [played] one more match than the teams that are competing with them. Everybody knows they need points in the remaining six fixtures they have, so we know it will be a difficult game for us.”
“Ita s a three-point match and we have to play with our maximum power to try to get them.”