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Premier League
Sep 19, 2015 at 12.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

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Live Coverage: Jose Mourinho's weekly Chelsea press conference

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's press conference ahead of his side's match against Arsenal.
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Jose Mourinho has revealed that Willian is the only player missing from the Chelsea squad ahead of the visit of Arsenal in the Premier League.

The reigning champions will be looking to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat to Everton last time out in the league.

Chelsea have won just one of their opening five fixtures in the Premier League.

Read what the manager discussed below.


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Good afternoon! Jose Mourinho will be speaking to the media shortly as he prepares his side for the visit of Arsenal this weekend. It hasn't been the best start to the season for the defending champions, with just one win from their opening five fixtures, but the visit of their London rivals will surely be a big incentive for Jose Mourinho's side.

The Blues have already gone some way to putting last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Everton behind them, thrashing Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League earlier this week. Willian was on the scoresheet during that match, but picked up an injury which will keep him out of this match. Mourinho should be providing us with full details of his squad's fitness shortly.

Another topic that Mourinho is likely to face questions about is first-team doctor Eva Carneiro, who hasn't been on the bench since the opening game of the season. Some reports claim that Mourinho is facing an investigation for using sexist language towards the medic, while others have claimed that she could be back in the dugout this weekend. The manager has been keen to avoid questions on Carneiro in recent weeks though.

Here's the squad heading out for training at the club's Cobham training ground a little earlier:


The visit of Arsenal also sees the return of former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who joined the Gunners during this summer's transfer window. In fact, the Czech international was the team's only signing of the transfer window. Cech won four Premier League titles with Chelsea, as well as the Champions League, Europa League and a string of domestic cups, but spent last season sat on the bench after the emergence of Thibaut Courtois, who is out for the next three months with a knee injury.

Mourinho will be heading out ready to talk to reporters in the next couple of minutes, so there's just time to tell you that we will have live coverage of this match from 10.45am tomorrow ahead of the 12.45pm kickoff, so make sure you join us for all the team news, match action, player ratings and loads more.

The manager has just taken his seat in the media room, so let's see what's on his mind this week.

Starting with an update on the squad's fitness, Mourinho confirms: "I select every player for the game because we have doubts. Willian is not even an option. Pedro, Falcao, Oscar, let's see what happens, let's see."

Mourinho is asked about Branislav Ivanovic's performances in recent weeks: "I liked the dynamic and many individual performances. You don't see me being critical with [Ivanovic], I'm not making individual analysis."

Turning his attention to this weekend's game, Mourinho says: "I want to isolate this match from every context. It doesn't matter our excellent record against Arsenal, they have not beaten us for seven or eight games apart from the Community Shield. I want to isolate it. It's just Chelsea vs. Arsenal."

Mourinho insists that Petr Cech won't receive any special treatment, at least until after the full-time whistle: "If anyone, a Chelsea fan, who had a different perspective and thought Cech would open the goal and let us win did not see the Community Shield. Until after the game, then he can come to dressing room."

Mourinho and Arsene Wenger have had a frosty relationship in the past, including a lack of handshake after the Community Shield match. Mourinho doesn't think anyone's interested in that though: "I don't think anyone is now focusing on that and we want to focus on the pitch."

Asked about how the Champions League win has affected his squad, Mourinho replies: "The quality of the training session has not changed. The quality of the intensity, the concentration and professionalism doesn't depend on winning, losing or happiness."

Mourinho is asked about John Terry, who has missed time through suspension and being substituted this season. He tells reporters: "He was in, he was captain, he was on the bench, he's one of the faces that I like more, even more yesterday and today."

Chelsea were at home in the Champions League, while Arsenal had to travel. Mourinho doesn't think that will be a problem for the visitors: "I don't think they'll be affected, half the team didn't travel, half the team didn't play. I don't think it's going to make a difference."

Mourinho is asked about the investigation into his treatment of club doctor Eva Carneiro, but he simply replies: "I have no reaction."

Eden Hazard hasn't been at his best so far this season, but the manager is backing the Belgian: "He's still the best player in England, he's the best playing in this country. It's not a bad performance or penalty lost or not scoring goals for three weeks. He's the best, he'll be the best again. One of these days, he's man of the match."

Mourinho is asked how important Oscar is to the team, and he responds: "Oscar is a good player and when the team has the ball, especially, he's very important because he's creative and you need that. You need somebody that can beat people one v one and associate with other attacking players. So when a defensive opponent, he's very good."

That's it from Mourinho for now, so make sure you join us again tomorrow morning to see if Chelsea can get their season back on course against Arsenal. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

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Chelsea's English defender Gary Cahill and Chelsea's English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek (3R) congratulate Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian (R) for scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League, group G, football match between Chelsea and Maccab
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