The Chelsea FC manager insisted that everyone at the club is open to criticism and that he has no ‘prima donnas’ in his squad as he prepares for the visit of Southampton in the evening kick-off on Saturday
Blues’ boss Jos Mourinho was in fine form in his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend’s Premier League clash against Southampton, describing the atmosphere within the squad as an open and honest one.
The Portuguese also confirmed that Chelsea FC are looking to complete the signing of goalkeeper Marcos Amelia as a back-up to current first-choice Asmir Begovi , with Belgian Thibaut Courtois continuing his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
“There are no prima donnas crying” — Mourinho
The Chelsea FC coach was adamant that his players were able to be open and honest with their criticism of each other, and that his players know when they let the team down. Addressing the media in his weekly press conference on Friday afternoon, Mourinho said (via chelseafc.com):
“When you make a big mistake you know it and you feel it. Here we speak openly. We criticise people without any kind of problems. There are no prima donnas crying. Everybody wants to do well. Everybody accepts the criticism. Everybody knows their job and knows when they let the team down.
“Maicon should have been surrounded by three players for the second goal against Porto. They failed. They let the team down. They know it, and we speak about it because we try not to make mistakes. You know what I call that? Coaching.”
Mourinho confirms Marcos Amelia chase
The 52-year-old confirmed that former AC Milan goalkeeper Marcos Amelia has been with the Chelsea FC squad over the past couple of days, with the Stamford Bridge outfit hoping to sign cover for Bosnia & Herzegovina international Asmir Begovi .
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“He is an experienced goalkeeper,” Mourinho was quoted as saying by the club’s official website. “He knows what a big club is, he knows the responsibility. He has played in the Champions League and for his national team, but he hasna t played so much in the last couple of years.
a “He has not been training with a team for a few months, but what we need is some cover and some stability until Courtois is back. Maybe he is the guy to give us that because it must be a goalkeeper without a club or a contract.
“We were analysing and with what we had in our hands, we found that Marco could be a good possibility for us. Leta s see in the next couple of days what we decide.”