Tuesday 21 October 2014 11:40, UK
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be without three key players for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Maribor.
Top scorer Diego Costa had already been ruled out with a hamstring injury and despite training on Monday, Andre Schurrle and Ramires are also sidelined.
Germany international Schurrle misses out through illness and Ramires is not available due to a groin problem.
I do not have Manchester United in mind, I have Maribor in mind. I don’t rest players.
“He is not training because he is not in good condition to do it,” Mourinho said of Costa. “I don’t know (when he will return) but tomorrow (Tuesday), he cannot play.
“Let’s see what happens for next weekend but next weekend (against Manchester United) is not important, tomorrow is important and he can’t do it tomorrow.”
Regardless of his injury concerns, Mourinho insisted he will not rest players ahead of Sunday’s Sky Live clash with Manchester United.
“I do not have Manchester United in mind, I have Maribor in mind. I don’t rest players,” added Mourinho.
“We have to think about this game, not the one in Slovenia. It is important to win, the group is not an easy one,” he said.
“Sporting (Lisbon) are a good team and are playing better and better and better. Schalke are a good team, now with Roberto (Di Matteo), a new coach. Motivation is high and they are a dangerous team.
“Maribor have played eight matches in the Champions League with zero defeats. Celtic: didn’t lose. Sporting: didn’t lose. Schalke in Germany: didn’t lose. When I study them, I realise why they didn’t lose.
“We have four points, which isn’t bad, but we need seven out of these three matches to qualify.
“With seven you are not qualified but it gives you a little bit of stability for the second part (of the Champions League group stages).”
Watch highlights of Chelsea v Maribor on Champions League Goals at 10pm on Sky Sports 5 HD on Tuesday night, and see Manchester United v Chelsea live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm on Sunday.
