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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Jones happy under Van Gaal

Phil Jones insists Manchester United’s form has rocketed because the players finally understand Louis van Gaal’s philosophy.

Last Updated: 11/04/15

Phil Jones: Defender has bought into manager's style

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The team go into Sunday’s derby against Manchester City on the back of five consecutive wins and are above their neighbours, after the same number of games played in the Premier League, for the first time in 16 months.

Defender Jones says the players needed time to adapt to the approach of Van Gaal, who replaced David Moyes in the summer, but are now enjoying his methods.

He told Soccer Saturday: "Every player is well aware of the philosophy of the manager and the way he wants his teams to play.

“I think that’s why we’ve been hitting such good form lately. Every player now understands their role in the team. It’s more stable.

“Players know what they’re doing, day in, day out. Players like routines. They like to know what they’re doing in the week and in training.

“You can tell by the performances of late that the players are happy and enjoying it. There’s a real buzz around the training ground.

“A lot of people wrote us off. We knew the capabilities and qualities in the dressing room. It’s a big game at the weekend, we’ve got to go out and win the game.”

United have won every game since the return of Michael Carrick from injury in early March – a statistic that has not gone unnoticed by Jones.

“He’s the most underrated player I’ve ever met. For me he is that good,” he added.

“The role he plays in this team is brilliant. He’s an unbelievable passer of the ball. He sees the game well. He reads it well and he’s a great lad off the pitch too.”

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Man Utd v Man City preview

Striker Robin van Persie will not play in Manchester United's derby against City on Sunday despite returning to first-team training.

Last Updated: 10/04/15

Robin Van Persie: Will miss the derby

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Van Persie trained with his team-mates for the first time this week since he suffered an ankle injury against Swansea on February 21, but he will not be risked as manager Louis van Gaal does not believe he is match fit.

Defender Jonny Evans is suspended, Luke Shaw is out with a hamstring problem, Chris Smalling is a doubt through illness and midfielder Andreas Pereira is away with the Brazil Under-20 side.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Kompany felt the muscle tighten during Monday's defeat at Crystal Palace and will undergo a fitness test.

Strikers Wilfried Bony (ankle/knee) and Stevan Jovetic are also out, as is defender Dedryck Boyata (knee).

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Pellegrini: No pressure on me

Manuel Pellegrini is confident in his position as Manchester City manager and insists his squad remain fully behind him.

Last Updated: 11/04/15

Manuel Pellegrini: Doesn't fear the sack at Manchester City

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Pellegrini’s future has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks, with City’s defence of their Premier League title collapsing.

After Barcelona had ended his side's interest in the Champions League, the 61-year-old has seen his side slip down to fourth in the table and trailing leaders Chelsea - who have a game in hand - by nine points.

But the Chilean is adamant he will not let the pressure affect him, saying: "I have experience, you know when a squad is behind you when you are working; you know when you work well or work bad.

"You can't talk about decisions which are not your decisions but if you ask me why I'm not afraid; because there are two things in my whole career - I have never been a coward and I am not afraid."

"I am not talking about my future because it is not important. I am just thinking about the game against Manchester United.

"We have to improve because we are not winning but we are the most attacking team, the team that has most possession of the ball, we don't concede many goals.

"I think the players are happy in the way we work and the way we play. I don't see any problems inside the club.

"You never know what will happen in August and at the end of the season but, if you ask me, I am not afraid because I think we are in the correct way but a bad moment."

Watch the Manchester derby live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.30pm this Sunday.

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Pellegrini expects intense deby

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is braced for a ferocious Sky Live derby game at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Last Updated: 11/04/15 

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini ready for derby test

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With just a point separating the two teams in third and fourth, the stage is set for a battle of high intensity.

Pellegrini said: "It is difficult to have a more intense match than you have in the Premier League every week but of course you add a little bit more for a derby of the city. Both teams want to win.

"It is important to be the winning team in the city - that gives an extra plus for the game, not only intensity is better but quality.

"Both teams have very good players and both managers like to play an attacking system so I hope for a good game for the fans, for whom you play, and after that I hope we can win."

City have held the edge over United in recent contests and could register a fifth successive derby win for the first time in their history with a victory this weekend. A win would also see them become the first club to beat United five times in a row in the Premier League.

Pellegrini said: "I think that they have a lot of respect for our team because last year it was the team that dominated not only the derby, but I think we dominated also the Premier League. It is not easy for a team.

"In the last three years we won two and in the other we were runner-up. This year we have been runner-up the whole year.

"We have a different problem, we have to make sure we don't make mistakes because they have important and technically very good players.

"When you have mathematical options in football you must never give up and always believe you can do it."

Watch the Manchester derby live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.30pm this Sunday.

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