Jose Mourinho has insisted that Chelsea will be pushing to win their final three matches of the Premier League season, despite the team having already clinched the title.
Oscar will miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury, but Mourinho confirmed that Diego Costa is keen to play again after missing time with a hamstring injury.
The manager also spoke about his future at the club, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Chelsea youngster Dominic Solanke.
Read what else the manager discussed below.
Good afternoon! Jose Mourinho is due to speak to the media in around 15 minutes as he prepares the champions for a match against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
When these two sides met at Anfield in the reverse fixture, Chelsea came away with all three points, while the last meeting between these two teams came in the League Cup, with the Blues knocking this weekend's visitors out in the semi-finals. In the last five meetings between these two teams in all competitions, Chelsea have secured four wins.
Naturally, Chelsea will be hoping that that streak continues this weekend as they look to celebrate their league title with yet another victory. Chelsea have won six of their last seven matches, with their only dropped points coming in a draw with Arsenal.
After this match, Chelsea will play two sides involved in the relegation battle in their final two matches of the season. West Brom could be all but safe when they host the league leaders next weekend, but Sunderland could still be needing a win to stay up when they go to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the campaign.
Here's Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard celebrating last weekend's title-clinching win. Hazard may be the PFA player of the season and in spectacular form, but it will be Drogba that Liverpool need to keep an eye on, as he has nine goals in all competitions against the Reds.
Champions on @Vine... http://t.co/uCjPtIaSFv
https://t.co/hmy8Yp4KgT
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 8, 2015
It will be interesting to see what Mourinho says about Diego Costa's fitness. Last week the manager admitted that he was inclined to keep resting the Spaniard, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, so long as the team keeps winning. With the title now secured, does this mean the club's top scorer is finished for the season? Hopefully all will become clear shortly.
With the press conference due to get underway in just a few minutes, there's just time for me to remind you that we'll have plenty of build up, team news, post-match reaction and loads more from this tie on Sunday, so make sure you're with us then to see if Chelsea can continue their unbeaten run.
Right then, the manager is ready to speak, so let's see what's on his mind this afternoon...
Straight away, Mourinho insists that his side won't be easing off because the title is already clinched, saying: "Liverpool needs points. Sunderland will probably need points. Only West Brom will be at home without the need for points. We want to win. If we reach 90, it'll be good for a competition like the Premier League."
Once again, Mourinho was overlooked for the manager of the month award, with Leicester's Nigel Pearson claiming the April trophy, but the Chelsea boss isn't too upset: "My objective for the season is to be champion. What come with that comes with that. For many months we had no defeats, but I can't do anything. I can just enjoy the title, which is the most important thing."
Mourinho insists that his players have not had the week off, although some have missed training: "In here, we take care of the players like a made to measure suit. A player who plays every match in the Premier League needs a different suit to a player that played five."
There has been speculation that the title win will earn Mourinho a contract extension at Stamford Bridge, but he says: "I'm not asking for a new contract, a better contract. I'm very calm. If the owner wants me to stay, I'm staying. If he wants me to leave, I'll leave."
Mourinho is asked about Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who is leaving the club at the end of the season. He replies: "To stop him, or to try to stop him, is very difficult. I'm very said it's the last time I will play against him."
Liverpool will give a guard of honour to the new champions ahead of kickoff, and Mourinho tells reporters: "Liverpool is a giant club. If they want to do that, my players are going to accept that with the same respect they want to do that for my players."
Turning his attention to Diego Costa, Mourinho reveals: "Diego Costa wants to play, but I will protect him all the way. We need to find a balance between the risk and the desire."
Looking ahead to the transfer window, Mourinho is hoping to keep hold of his key players: "The most important thing is to keep the squad we have. I want to keep my important players, and they are all important. Obviously we will try to improve our squad, our squad will be very similar to this one with some new players. We are not selling many players. All of them are important as the squad is 15 to 16 players."
On youngster Dominic Solanke, who scored a hat-trick for Chelsea's youth side against Liverpool Under-21s last night, the manager says: "This kid is playing a lot and he's playing everywhere and every team, starting with the first team in the Champions League through Under-21s, Under-18s, Youth Generation. He players everywhere in every competition. His time will arrive and he will be a Chelsea player."
Mourinho won't have his full squad available this weekend, as he reveals: "Oscar has a thigh injury, we spoke with [Brazil coach] Dunga and he made the decision it was impossible for him to go to the Copa America."
Mourinho is asked more generally about the season, and he replies: "What pleases me is winning the title, the way we did it and the consistency we've shown in periods. The key moment was the stability after losing at Spurs. Everybody stuck together and we were very calm."
Well, that's it from a fairly chatty Mourinho this afternoon. So, make sure you join us again on Sunday to find out if Chelsea can keep their unbeaten run going for another match. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
