Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho says he will definitely be resting some of his
first-choice players for Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Watford.
However, Mourinho insists that he is taking the competition seriously and is
expecting Watford to provide a tricky test.
"Obviously we are going to rest a couple of players, that's normal," said
Mourinho.
"We want to try to beat Watford but, at the same time, we have to analyse
the players' condition and make the right decision for them, and give a
chance to other people to play.”
Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Oscar, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic are
candidates to be given a rest while Ramires, who has been hampered by a
niggling groin injury, may be in line for a start.
"I have players from the first-team and players that we need to have in
condition to play," said Mourinho.
"Hopefully Ramires is getting there step by step. He played 45 minutes
(during the New Year’s Day defeat at Tottenham).
"He's a player we need and he's a player we haven't had for the first part
of the season.
"When we had him he was not really ready and finally he looks like he's
almost getting there."
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has a finger injury and Petr Cech, who may have
been in line to play anyway, is ready to deputise.
“He (Courtois) has a problem in one of his fingers, let's see what happens,”
said Mourinho. “I don’t know (if is broken), I just asked if he could carry
on at half-time (at White Hart Lane).”
With Chelsea currently in the thick of what could prove a thrilling tussle
for the title, an FA Cup run may be deemed a distraction but Mourinho does
not see it that way.
"It's impossible to go for one trophy, or two, or three, or four," he said.
"It's only possible to go for the next match. The next match is FA Cup and
we want to try to win the FA Cup. Simple as that.
"We don't choose competitions. We choose the next match and the next match
is against Watford - and it's an important match.
"It's a difficult game. It's a good team, one of the best teams in the
Championship.
"We have the experience of the difficulties against teams like Bolton,
Derby, teams that we played already this season.
"They have a good team and they are fresh. They didn't play this New Year
fixture.
"They will go to try to beat us, so we need to be alert because the game is
going to be difficult."
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