Chelsea captain John Terry left the field on stretchers last Tuesday after picking up an injury, most likely due to the horrible state of the pitch. In today's press conference ahead of Chelsea's match against Tottenham, José Mourinho hoped that Terry will be able to recover from his injury as soon as possible to perform, although he also said he has "complete trust" in defenders Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma to take upon the task.
"I don't want to say that it's impossible [John Terry] plays, because maybe he plays and then you will say that I was hiding. I'm not hiding. Today he didn't train, but we have a little hope that it's possible [he will be available]."
"I have complete trust in [Gary] Cahill and [Kurt] Zouma. That's why, in a fundamental match for us last Tuesday, I left Zouma out after good performances to play Gary and to show Gary that confidence. They are ready."
-José Mourinho; source: Guardian
In a similar situation, Ramires won't be able to available to play against Tottenham, although Courtois might be back into our line-ups really soon:
Jose: 'Ramires is in the same situation as John, let's wait and see.' #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) 27. November 2015
The manager says Thibaut Courtois is progressing well and hopes the goalkeeper will be back in the first 15 days of December. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) 27. November 2015
Chelsea have had a rare glimmer of hope in their last two games, having struck two wins along with clean sheets in matches against Norwich City and Maccabi Tel Aviv respectively. But Mourinho feels it's too soon to say that the team have "turned a corner" after getting these good results.
"No, [I don't think we 'turned a corner']. I think Chelsea is a big club, and big clubs have difficult moments. Big clubs cope with difficult moments and try to build again, to have good moments again."
"I prefer to say that we have to play every match as if we are fighting for the title. But the reality is we need points, the same way we needed points last season when we were top of the table and fighting to be champions."
"Every point between now and the end of the season can make a difference. We've lost so many already, now we have to fight even more."
-José Mourinho; source: Guardian
Speaking about Tottenham, José Mourinho had a few words of praise for Pochettino's men, saying he wasn't surprised to see the Spurs battling for a top-four finish so soon in the league.
"When I watch them play, it's not a surprise for me [that Spurs are so high in the table]. They are because the team is very good. The manager is very good. Players are good. Good stability, playing well, a very, very good team."
-José Mourinho; source: Guardian
On transfer rumours and links to players such as Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane, Mourinho gave a rather mixed reaction, claiming he won't ask the board for new players, but he knows which ones are possible (or notpossible) to get acquired by the club:
"We are in November and we are all focussed on doing our job as best we can. We are not speaking about players, about buying, spending, we are thinking about that we can do now."
"[These are] stories that start in September 1 when the market close and stories that are going to be more and more when January 1 is getting closer. I know which players are possible, I know which players are impossible."
"I will not ask players to the board, I will try and get the best results I can with the players I have. It depends on the club's intentions, needs, it depends on many factors. I'm not focussed on the market because the truth is that I'm going with the same players."
-José Mourinho; source: Goal