Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho has no concerns over the fitness of Loic Remy after
the striker moved to Stamford Bridge only after reports of a failed medical
when he was on the verge of a switch to Liverpool.
The France striker could make his Chelsea debut in Saturday's Premier League
clash with Swansea after becoming the Blues' final summer signing, joining
after Fernando Torres had left for AC Milan on a two-year loan.
Chelsea medical director Paco Biosca's assessment was that there was no
issue with Remy, who signed from QPR for a reported £10.5m, and Mourinho was
uncertain why Liverpool pulled out of a deal for the striker.
"We don't have Liverpool's report," Mourinho said.
"The final conclusion (of Chelsea's medical) was the same conclusion that
the France federation medical department had before the World Cup, which was
that the player has no problems and can play football.
"If a player fails a medical it should be something very, very intimate,
very personal between the player and the club.
"But the way almost every club does it, it looks like the medical is not any
more a private situation."
Remy is one of three Chelsea strikers alongside Didier Drogba and Diego
Costa, who has netted four times in his first three games.
The trio have replaced Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba, who played upfront
last season.
"We had a good group of strikers last season, but we changed three for three
and we believe that these three give us more, in relation to the football we
want to play," Mourinho added.
Romelu Lukaku was also sold to Everton, where he spent last term on loan,
for a healthy profit as Chelsea sold wisely as well as bought well in the
summer.
Mourinho believes it is a matter of "pride" for Chelsea to comply to
Financial Fair Play laws as rivals test the implementation of the
regulations.
There is a determination at Stamford Bridge to adhere to the regulations
under billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who embarked on a mighty spending
spree when he took control of the club 11 years ago.
"Chelsea are doing things well, not just because it has to be by the rule,
by the legal point of view, but also a question of pride," Mourinho said.
"It's something that Mr Abramovich is proud of, and something everybody who
works in the club is proud of.
"From my point of view, as a first-team manager and coach, I'm enjoying the
situation.
"To buy you have to sell. To sell, you have to decide what you are going to
sell, why, when... all these question marks, I enjoy."
Chelsea have 26 players on loan, but Mourinho has spoken of the potential
for many of those to be future first-team stars, while also incorporating
young talent such as England under-20s captain Lewis Baker in his first-team
squad this season.
Still Chelsea had to send Marco van Ginkel on loan to AC Milan to comply
with UEFA regulations over homegrown players in Champions League squads.
Manchester City seem to have dodged the rule - instead of having four
homegrown players, City have just one - but Mourinho declined to comment on
rival teams, preferring to focus on Chelsea.
The majority of the Blues' transfer business took place early, with Costa a
long-term target and impressing so much that he was named Premier League
player of the month for August.
Garry Monk, Mourinho's opposite number in the dugout on Saturday, received
the manager's award.
"Finally we have a player of the month, which Diego deserved and my team
deserved that one of the boys is the player of the month," said Mourinho,
who was frustrated Eden Hazard and others were often overlooked for the
monthly award last term.
top