Spurs have the most shots on target out of anyone in the top flight this season with 88.
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Mourinho made this known during his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Sunday’s clash against Tottenham Hotspurs. “The manager is very good. When I was in a team whose objectives were not to be relegated, in December we were third and it was fantastic”, said Mourinho about his managerial stint with Portuguese club Uniao de Leiria.
Commenting on Spurs being one of the favourites for the league title this season, Mourinho said he will not write them off. This team is relatively young but the likes of Erikson, Lamela and Kane have shown that they are more than capable of playing with the big boys.
“No pressure on them, like it is in the other four or five top teams to reach important positions”. “I can imagine, with the stability they are showing, that sooner or later – I think sooner – they will be there, winning trophies or in a Champions League position, for sure”.
Successive wins for just a second time this season – against Norwich and Maccabi Tel Aviv – have restored some confidence, but the trip to White Hart Lane will be a test of the resurgence. “I think we have a chance but it is very early”.
Mourinho certainly does not talk about every other manager this way. “But the conditions are very good”. But he’s now worked with them for over 18 months and got rid of those he didn’t want and brought in some of those he feels can improve the side.
“They also have extra days to prepare for our match”.
Dele Alli is suspended for Spurs but Kyle Walker, Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele return after they were rested for Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win over Qarabag in Baku.
Their boss Gurban Gurbanov said: “Of course we opportunities to score”.
Matic has not been a world-beater this year, but he’s still one of the best midfield options Mourinho has.
While all of the stats favour Spurs, I have an inkling that Chelsea are going to win this one and fire their revival with real momentum as a outcome.
“Sometimes when you have lost you don’t want to speak to anybody”.
Cesar has played well lately and should get plenty of playing time this week.
The pair’s previous encounter at White Hart Line resulted in an eight-goal thriller, with Mauricio Pochettino’s team ending a run of nine top-flight meetings without a win against their London rivals by prevailing 5-3.
“You could tell they had a lot of experienced players who have played a lot of games and won a lot of trophies and they knew how to win, to grind out a result”.
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“It is true we arrive maybe not in the best condition to compete in the right way but [we] respect our medical staff for what they do”.
