London (dpa) - Chelsea will rest captain John Terry and midfielders
Eden Hazard and Willian for Wednesday's Champions League clash with
Sporting Lisbon.
With top spot in their group already assured, the trio
will all sit out the their final group match, but striker Diego Costa will start to boost his match fitness.
"We have so many matches to play in December," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told a press conference on Tuesday. "This game gives us the chance to rest these three players.
"Step by step, match after match - we try to give them new periods to breathe so they can face the second part of this December month. Diego Costa starts tomorrow."
Mourinho confirmed that 18-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek would be in the squad, but would not be drawn on if the academy player would start.
"I don't know if Ruben will play," he said. "One month ago he played in a Champions League new generation game.
"You can imagine the difference between playing in a Sporting Lisbon academy with 1,000 spectators and one month later to play against the real Sporting, with 45,000 people and all the lights on him."
Chelsea have been criticized in some quarters for not bringing young players through their system, preferring instead to spend millions on proven players from abroad.
But Mourinho said Loftus-Cheek was an example that they were able to produce their own players.
"To be here since he was eight and to have a chance to play for Chelsea is every kid's dream," he said.
"He didn't have a pre-season with me. The way he trains every time he comes and gives me the guarantee of his quality.
"He gives me the guarantee of his ambition. I'm so happy to give kids the chance, especially if I give them the chance and they have the tools to make a career at Chelsea. An English player completely made in Chelsea."
With top spot in their group already assured, the trio
will all sit out the their final group match, but striker Diego Costa will start to boost his match fitness.
"We have so many matches to play in December," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told a press conference on Tuesday. "This game gives us the chance to rest these three players.
"Step by step, match after match - we try to give them new periods to breathe so they can face the second part of this December month. Diego Costa starts tomorrow."
Mourinho confirmed that 18-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek would be in the squad, but would not be drawn on if the academy player would start.
"I don't know if Ruben will play," he said. "One month ago he played in a Champions League new generation game.
"You can imagine the difference between playing in a Sporting Lisbon academy with 1,000 spectators and one month later to play against the real Sporting, with 45,000 people and all the lights on him."
Chelsea have been criticized in some quarters for not bringing young players through their system, preferring instead to spend millions on proven players from abroad.
But Mourinho said Loftus-Cheek was an example that they were able to produce their own players.
"To be here since he was eight and to have a chance to play for Chelsea is every kid's dream," he said.
"He didn't have a pre-season with me. The way he trains every time he comes and gives me the guarantee of his quality.
"He gives me the guarantee of his ambition. I'm so happy to give kids the chance, especially if I give them the chance and they have the tools to make a career at Chelsea. An English player completely made in Chelsea."
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