Champions League - Chelsea vs Sporting Clube de Portugal

Several players are due to be rested and youngsters Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christenen and Dominic Solanke could figure, alongside Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah.

Shed wrote:Diego Costa could start for Chelsea against Sporting:
• Mourinho weighing up whether to select Costa to improve player's fitness
• Cesc Fàbregas and Eden Hazard not expected to play
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/dec/08/diego-costa-jose-mourinho-chelsea-sporting-lisbon

"I don't know if Ruben will play. One month ago he played in a Champions League new generation game."

"He has so much to learn and to do that is by being with us. The best thing for his development is to stay with the first team. Probably from the new transfer window he will stay with the first team to further his development for the second part of the season."

"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. To be here since he was eight and to have a chance to play for Chelsea is every kid's dream."

"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."

Chelsea FC ‏· @chelseafc · 5 minutes ago
Mourinho reports John Terry, Willian and Eden Hazard won't feature in tomorrow's match, they are off at the moment.

• Chelsea are, alongside Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and FC Porto, one of the only four sides to have won their groups after just five Matchdays in the Champions League this season.

• Hazard has also won more fouls than any other player in the competition (19).

• Sporting have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their 12 European away games against English sides, conceding 24 goals in the process.

• In 141 European games between English and Portuguese sides, the British clubs have won 71 and have kept 48 clean sheets (D32 L38).

• Sporting have gone through a Champions League group stage just once (2008/2009). They can do it again this season with a draw against Chelsea.

Abramovich wrote:Ghostzard won't get his chance to shine vs some scrubs at home wtf is going on.

“This match is decisive for us. It’s possible that one point will be enough but that is a dangerous view to take against a club like Chelsea. We are mentally prepared to go there and try to get a victory that will guarantee we reach the knock-out phase.”

“Will Chelsea be relaxed for this match? Never. I know teams that are managed by Jose Mourinho and there is no chance of that happening.”

“I am convinced the Blues want to win this match to end the group stage with a triumph.Ï

“We are expecting an intense match, the match of the season for us in Europe.”

"The fact we’ve already qualified doesn’t affect our mindset, not when you play for a big club like Chelsea."

"You have to always give your best because if you sleep for one second maybe tomorrow you’re not going to be here."

"The pressure is really high on us and so we have to keep the level really high. Winning this game is the best thing we can do. We’re ready for it."

"We know the danger they offer with their attackers."

"They have really fast wingers, and in my position I have a difficult job because usually in Europe the right winger is the fastest one in the team."

"We have to be really focused on that and try to defend well but also we know in the away game their goalkeeper was the best player."

"That means we had a really good game and today we need to try and create the same chances we did away."

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