Jose Mourinho wants champions-elect Chelsea to confirm the Premier League title with victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Blues enter this weekend’s fixtures 13 points clear and needing three points to seal a first championship in five years. Mourinho said: “We need two or three points to be champions. Let’s say three to make sure we don’t depend on goal difference.
“We need a victory or we need three points with three draws. Obviously we want to finish as soon as possible. If we can do it at home, better. If we can do on Sunday, even better. That’s what we have in our minds.”
Mourinho won the title twice in his first spell, securing Chelsea’s first championship in 50 years in 2004-05 and successfully retaining the trophy a year later.
Carlo Ancelotti’s success in 2009/10 was Chelsea’s most recent triumph, but now the Blues are on the verge of a fourth title in 11 seasons. Mourinho refuses to take his third Premier League title for granted after a goalless draw at Arsenal last Sunday and Wednesday night’s win at Leicester saw his side move to the brink.
“Similar to Arsenal, similar to Leicester, we go to win, but any point that we get is a positive point, so we are calm,” he said.
Diego Costa’s 19 Premier League goals have been integral to Chelsea’s title push, particularly at the beginning of the season when the £32million signing from Atletico Madrid made a seamless transition to English football.
Costa’s season has been punctuated by hamstring problems and he may not play again this term if Chelsea win on Sunday.
“No, just isn’t worth the risk,” said Mourinho, insisting the Spain striker has not suffered a setback. “We don’t need to rush. We are trying to give the maximum stability for him to be stronger and stronger.
“There is a chance he might not (play again this season). If we win Sunday, I would say he doesn’t play against Liverpool. If we don’t win Sunday and we need points against Liverpool, I would say he plays against Liverpool.
If we don’t need, probably he won’t play again.”
Loic Remy is back following a calf injury, while Thibaut Courtois could return in goal after dropping to the bench for the win at Leicester due to a minor hip problem which saw Petr Cech come in.
0 Comments