Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho will be without three key players for Tuesday’s
Champions League game with Maribor.
Top scorer Diego Costa had already been ruled out with a hamstring injury
and despite training on Monday, Andre Schurrle and Ramires are also
sidelined.
Germany international Schurrle misses out through illness and Ramires is not
available due to a groin problem.
“He is not training because he is not in good condition to do it,” Mourinho
said of Costa. “I don’t know (when he will return) but tomorrow (Tuesday),
he cannot play.
“Let’s see what happens for next weekend but next weekend (against
Manchester United) is not important, tomorrow is important and he can’t do
it tomorrow.”
Regardless of his injury concerns, Mourinho insisted he will not rest
players ahead of Sunday’s Sky Live clash with Manchester United.
“I do not have Manchester United in mind, I have Maribor in mind. I don’t
rest players,” added Mourinho.
“We have to think about this game, not the one in Slovenia. It is important
to win, the group is not an easy one,” he said.
“Sporting (Lisbon) are a good team and are playing better and better and
better. Schalke are a good team, now with Roberto (Di Matteo), a new coach.
Motivation is high and they are a dangerous team.
“Maribor have played eight matches in the Champions League with zero
defeats. Celtic: didn’t lose. Sporting: didn’t lose. Schalke in Germany:
didn’t lose. When I study them, I realise why they didn’t lose.
“We have four points, which isn’t bad, but we need seven out of these three
matches to qualify.
“With seven you are not qualified but it gives you a little bit of stability
for the second part (of the Champions League group stages).”
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