Mourinho wants Cech to stay

Jose Mourinho insists he wants Petr Cech to stay at Stamford Bridge and says Chelsea would not be champions if it was not for the long-serving goalkeeper.

Last Updated: 09/05/15

Jose Mourinho and goalkeeper Petr Cech during a Chelsea training session

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Cech has been displaced as first choice keeper after 10 seasons in west London by Thibaut Courtois.

The Czech international is understandably frustrated and has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal, but Mourinho is adamant he wants the 32-year-old to stay and certainly does not want him going to another Premier League side.

"One thing is Jose Mourinho and another is Mr Abramovich and another thing is the board because the board includes a little bit of me, a little bit of other people," he said.

"But if it was me, if it was my decision, my decision is Petr to stay. That's it. It would be my decision for Petr to stay."

Such a stance may upset Cech but Mourinho said he would be willing to go against the will of the player for the betterment of the club.

"I think that the club is more important than the players and, as was proved this season, the club needs two very good goalkeepers," he said.

"Without Petr this season, I don't think the club would be champions because he played six important matches in the Premier League and without these points we probably wouldn't be champions.

"So for me, decision number one: Petr will stay. After that, second point to go but not in England. The option I don't want is for him to go to an English club.

"But, I repeat, I am just the manager and he means so much for this club and what he did in this club I think he deserves everything from this club.

"If the club decision is different to mine, I will accept with all the respect."

Watch Chelsea v Liverpool on Super Sunday on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm.

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QPR v Chelsea preview

QPR will not welcome back any of their injured players in time to face west London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

Last Updated: 10/04/15 

Rio Ferdinand: Misses meeting with Chelsea

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Defender Richard Dunne (knee) is close to a return but will not be considered with fellow centre-back Rio Ferdinand also absent for the Premier League match with an unspecified knock.

Manager Chris Ramsey may have to look to make changes having played twice in four days but Yun Suk-young (concussion) is still out alongside Eduardo Vargas, Leroy Fer and Alejandro Faurlin (all knee).

Chelsea are without Diego Costa following the striker's hamstring injury.

Cesc Fabregas will play with a mask to protect his broken nose and will start alongside Nemanja Matic in midfield despite the influential pair being one booking away from a suspension.

Midfielder John Obi Mikel is fit again following a knee injury.

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Mourinho: Hazard is the best

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Eden Hazard has been the best player in the Premier League by some distance this season and believes he should be a certainty for the player of the year award.

Last Updated: 11/04/15

Jose Mourinho says Eden Hazard has been the best player in the Premier League th

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The Belgium playmaker has enjoyed a fine campaign, scoring 12 goals in 30 matches to help Chelsea amass a seven-point lead at the top of the table with eight games to play ahead of Sunday's clash at QPR.

"I think what he's doing, speaking in a very honest way, it shouldn't even be a debate," Mourinho said.

"If somebody throws other names on the table, it's because he wants to sell papers, wants to throw some sand into people's eyes, because this player (Hazard) is by far the best player in the Premier League all season."

Hazard joined from Lille in a £32m deal in the summer of 2012, and recently signed a new contract until 2021.

He could play alongside an integral member of Chelsea's last title-winning side on Sunday, with Didier Drogba, who has won three Premier League titles, vying with Loic Remy to start in the absence of Diego Costa, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Drogba is out of contract at the end of the season and Mourinho is uncertain what the future holds for the 37-year-old striker who is in his second spell at Stamford Bridge.

"We have a lot of talks to do. I don't know what he wants," Mourinho said.

"I like what he likes. There are people who, during their careers, earn the right and the power to make decisions and not wait for others to make decisions for them.

"What he did at this club for so many years puts him in a great position."

Remy has scored decisive goals in the last two games in wins at Hull and against Stoke and, if he performs well, could keep his place even when Spain international Costa returns after an anticipated four-week absence.

"If, in the next few matches, he performs very, very well, maybe it makes the situation difficult for Diego when he comes back," Mourinho said.

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Costa blow for Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has revealed Diego Costa is unlikely to return from injury until next month.

Last Updated: 11/04/15

Diego Costa: Jose Mourinho admitted last week it was a risk to bring back the st

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The Chelsea boss expects the striker to play the final four games of the season due to his troublesome hamstring injury.

Costa limped off with a recurrence of the injury in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Stoke City.

The former Atletico Madrid striker will miss the Blues' games against QPR, Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester.

But Mourinho is hoping for him to return for the fixtures against Crystal Palace, Liverpool, West Ham and Sunderland in May.

Ahead of Sunday's clash away to QPR, the Portuguese coach said: "Only Diego is injured, everybody else is fine and ready.

"I think we have eight matches to play, if he plays four it is normal. If he plays three he is a bit below what I am expecting.

"If he plays five that is more than I am expecting.

"I am not concerned (by his injury)."

Meanwhile, Mourinho insisted he is focused only on the football ahead of a potentially hostile derby at QPR.

John Terry is poised to return to Loftus Road for the second time since he was banned in 2011 for four matches and fined £220,000 by the Football Association for "using abusive language related to colour” towards Aston Ferdinand.

The Blues skipper was stripped of the England captaincy amid the fall-out and then  announced his retirement from international football.

He will avoid facing Ferdinand's brother Rio, who branded him an "idiot" over the affair, as the defender is out injured.

Mourinho played down the relevance of the incident, saying: "I don't think so. I think it's just a football match.

"Obviously a very important match for both teams. We know that, we know they want to win. Nobody is expecting an easy match."

Asked if he anticipates a hostile reception, Mourinho added: "That's what people tell me. I never played there, I don't know.

"We go to play, we go to win, the people in the stands can play a role, but they cannot score goals.

"The referee and the assistant referees are there, so I'm not worried."

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