Chelsea FC vs Southampton preview - Mourinho keeps the faith
Posted Saturday, March 14, 2015 by PA
Jose Mourinho will resist wholesale changes for Chelsea's Premier League clash with Southampton on Sunday following the midweek Champions League disappointment.
The Blues boss insists "everyone wants to play" and has Nemanja Matic available for domestic duty after a two-match suspension was served prior to the European exit to Paris St Germain.
John Obi Mikel (knee) is the only definite injury absentee for the contest.
December's first fixture with Southampton was controversial, with Mourinho fined B#25,000 for saying there was a "clear campaign" against his side after Cesc Fabregas was denied a penalty and instead booked for diving.
The suspensions of Diego Costa and Matic - for treading on Emre Can of Liverpool and pushing Burnley's Ashley Barnes, respectively - only served to heighten Mourinho's sense of injustice.
"We move on," Mourinho said. "The referee (Mike Dean) is a good one."
Mourinho, who refused to reveal the content of Thursday's post-PSG debrief with his squad, insisted they have moved on.
He added: "Maybe it's a unique case to be out without a single defeat. We played eight matches, lost zero, but we were not good enough so we are out.
"We spoke in that moment about our future: to try and win the Premier League.
"If we do that, a season with a Premier League and a Capital One Cup is a brilliant season.
"We cannot promise that win every game, we cannot even promise that we win the Premier League, but we are optimistic.
"You have to be optimistic to succeed. Be optimistic. Believe in yourself. Be positive."
Toby Alderweireld is set to make his first appearance in nine weeks for Southampton.
The Belgium defender has been out since picking up a hamstring complaint at Manchester United on January 11 and, after been an unused substitute last time out, is likely to start at Stamford Bridge.
Jay Rodriguez (knee) and Emmanuel Mayuka (groin) remain absent, but boss Ronald Koeman has no fresh injury concerns.
Koeman takes on Mourinho well aware of how desperate his old friend will be to put their European misery behind them.
It was not the first underwhelming Blues performance of late, but Koeman does not expect such displays to necessarily work in Saints' favour this weekend.
"I don't know when it's a good time to face them," the Dutchman said. "It's always a difficult time.
"It's a big team, a strong team with some great players and of course they are very disappointed after the last Wednesday result.
"If you play 60 minutes against 10 players, you don't expect that final result and maybe a little bit more under pressure.
"They fight after the League Cup title and after that, not the most important one, they fight for the title.
"They need a win after a disappointing result but they will give a reaction you normally expect as a manager."
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