The five big talking points ahead of Chelsea's trip to Dynamo Kiev
Pedro opens up about his difficult start to life in England
Key Events
Full story: Remy and Pedro ruled out for Chelsea
Jose Mourinho had to leave Pedro and Loic Remy back in London after picking up injuries.
Chelsea boss Mourinho revealed both have knocks and will not risk them against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday night.
Mourinho said: “They have little injuries, both. Nothing really important, but not possible for tomorrow. Big risk for tomorrow. So no risk.
“We have other options. We have other players. Especially because they are in positions where we really have other options. So no risk.”
Chelsea boss Mourinho was late for the press conference and Willian missed it altogether because of the Kiev traffic.
It was not good preparation but Mourinho stressed the importance of getting a result.
Mourinho said: “Changing in results. We need to win matches in the Premier League to improve our position.
“We need to win points in the Champions League to qualify. So that’s what we need. To improve the results.”
Mourinho's presser: The key points
If you’re just joining us, firstly shame on you. And secondly, here are the key points you have missed:
- Loic Remy and Pedro both OUT of Dynamo Kiev game
- But neither injury is especially serious
- Andriy Yarmolenko is NOT on Chelsea’s radar
- Mourinho tight-lipped on Eden Hazard’s form
- Falcao has not said that he wants to leave the club
And with that, he's gone
Jose Mourinho stands up and heads out of the room.
Presumably off to the hotel, although the traffic may mean he’s better off making a beeline for the dugout to ensure he’s there for kick-off tomorrow.
That was a fairly relaxed, if slightly sultry presser from the Chelsea boss.
Confidence is improving, says Jose
Mourinho admits that Chelsea started the season poorly, but says morale is becoming better.
“As we improve results, we improve our confidence.
“We had too many bad results at the beginning of the season, but hopefully now we can go in the right direction.”
More from John Cross in Kiev
Mourinho is being asked about Hazard.
He kicks off by insisting he didn’t say Hazard was better than Ronaldo last season...
He’s really not happy with his form right now and refuses to say whether he will start.
Mourinho says Falcao hasn’t said anything to him about being unhappy and wanting to leave.
”I only play with one striker, it can be tough...”
No word on Falcao's future
Mourinho is asked about whether Radamel Falcao could be on the way out. He says he has no news.
“It’s strange that the media knows something I don’t know.
“He has to give us more than Diego... we play with one striker and I always go for the performance level.
“It’s a direct competition. The best one plays.”
Mourinho on Eden Hazard
The Chelsea boss is asked about Eden Hazard, who was dropped against Aston Villa at the weekend.
“Last season, he had a phenomenal season,” he says.
“I won’t tell you if he will play... they [Dynamo] won’t know.”
And how has he trained? “He trained like Eden.”
Yarmolenko NOT on Chelsea radar
Yep, that’s definitely a non-starter.
Mourinho lists all the widemen at his disposal, plus out-on-loan stars Victor Moses, Juan Cuadrado and Mo Salah.
“We cannot make a collection of wingers!” he says.
Fair enough.
Mourinho on his international week
Mourinho is asked if he was scouting Andriy Yarmolenko when he went to see Ukraine vs Spain last week.
“Of course I wasn’t looking at [other] players,” he says.
Here's John Cross in Kiev
The Kiev traffic is incredible.
So bad that Mourinho was delayed from airport and the elected player, Willian, had to give up and go to the hotel for a rest with other players.
Pedro and Remy haven’t travelled because of slight niggles.
Remy and Pedro ruled out
Mourinho confirms that Loic Remy and Pedro both miss out this week.
He says they both have small injuries, so have remained in London.
“We have other options and it would be big risk to play them,” says Jose.
Here's Jose... but no player
Jose is here after a long day, but there’s no player... because they need to rest.
He’s asked whether a improvement in morale is more important than results.
“We need to win matches in the Premier League to improve our position. We need points to qualify in the Champions League.
“We need to improve results.”
Mourinho stuck in traffic
The press conference has been delayed because... Jose Mourinho has been caught in traffic.
Insert terrible joke about parking the bus here.
We’ll be up and running soon enough.
Falcao off already?
Radamel Falcao could be ready to quit Chelsea in January.
Falcao, 29, is frustrated by a lack of chances at Stamford Bridge after joining Chelsea on a season-long loan from Monaco.
Colombian superstar Falcao - who spent last season at Manchester United - was fit but did not even make the bench for Chelsea’s win over Aston Villa.
He is concerned about his international place as he struggles to get games and there have been enquiries to his advisers about his availability.
The Spanish media even linked Barcelona with a move for Falcao who has found himself behind Diego Costa and Loic Remy at Chelsea this season.
It would be a complicated move to complete as Chelsea and Monaco would both have to agree to terminate the loan deal and for any club to then take over his huge wages.
But that could give Chelsea scope to go and get another striker in January if they get an offer for Falcao who has managed just one goal in the Premier League this season.
Pedro admits he's struggling to adapt
Pedro is finding it difficult to adapt to English football.
The Spain international forward joined Chelsea in a £21.4million deal this summer, but has struggled to hold down a regular place.
Pedro said: “It’s hard. It’s very different to what I’m used to [at Barcelona].
“But, little by little, I’m integrating more, adapting with my team-mates and the team and that’s the most important thing.
“Everything is different, very different to the football I’m used to. I think there are a lot of differences, very physical football, very strong.
“A lot of players attack and it’s always complicated. All the games are competitive and very balanced.”
On the road again
We hope the Chelsea players have packed their thermals ahead of this one...
Mourinho defends Costa
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says “brilliant” Diego Costa is wrongly portrayed in the media.
Mourinho leapt to the defence of Costa after he returned to the Chelsea line-up in their much-needed 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Mourinho said: “I’m pleased he didn’t react, but I would be even happier if the people who find his hypothetical or real negative moments were honest the other way and show and show and show.
“He will be targeted until the moment people point the finger at them and show the images, re-show the images and have the top pundits speaking about it.
“When you lose him we’re a bit in trouble because the team always depends on a striker like him, from a character and personality like him.
“Diego isn’t a leader in the dressing room, he doesn’t even speak English well, but in the game, the way he plays, the way he gives his body to the cause is brilliant.”
Good afternoon
Monday afternoon: a time for reflection, a cup of tea and, apparently, a pre-Champions League press conference.
Jose Mourinho is speaking ahead of Chelsea’s latest European game, against Dynamo Kiev.
The Blues sit third in Group G after two games, having lost away to Porto last time out. They now head to the Ukraine hoping to take charge of what should be a winnable section.
Confidence will be high(er) after the weekend’s win over Aston Villa, which helped them climb the Premier League table after a shaky start to the campaign.
Expect team news, updates on Eden Hazard’s defensive nous and plenty more besides.
