We have the experience, we have been here before and we have prevailed even when people counted us out.
That best sums up Mourinho’s press conference. He was calm, relaxed and even shared some banter between the players and himself before the match.
I told him we won two very important matches without him, the Capital One Cup final and against West Ham, so maybe he’s not so important
“I told him that and he was laughing but that’s the reality. It’s also the reality that he’s very important for us, we are happy he’s back.”
He’s fit to play, no problem with his injury. He’s had no football for a couple of weeks, no training either, but he’s ready to play and he will play tomorrow in his normal position
Chelsea finally showed the world they can win without Matic, it was not pretty but we did it. Having him back and fresh is a big boost, to have our main man back after a 2 week break as we approach the business end of the season is an even bigger boost. The FA unwittingly did us a big favour.
Mourinho also discussed his displeasure with the treatment Eden Hazard got in the first leg. I don’t think they will pursue such a strategy away from home because referees have been known to buckle under pressure from home crowds it would be riskier.
I was surprised in that game because a team with fantastic players was the team with a record of fouls, they were the team making foul after foul, stopping Hazard with fouls and attacking the man on the ball with very aggressive actions
Mourinho also highlighted the difference between this season’s group of strikers and our previous season.
“Last season we had Samuel Eto’o, Demba Ba and Fernando Torres, they did their work for us, we didn’t win titles but they helped us go far in competitions.”
This season, Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Didier Drogba helped us win the Capital One Cup and to be where we are in the Champions League and Premier League, so they are doing their job.
Diego Costa’s contribution in the final goal of the Capital One final is just the beginning. I am putting my money on the big man coming to the party to seal the deal this evening and the re-emergence of Ramires could see Fabregas, Willian and Hazard supporting Costa up front in our upcoming fixtures.
