Mourinho reveals Chelsea injury problems

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revealed almost half his side were playing with fitness concerns after the 1-1 draw away against Paris St-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.

Cesc Fabregas had been struggling with illness, Willian was another who had been carrying a knock, while goalscorer Branislav Ivanovic has been playing with a foot injury sustained in the recent League Cup win against Liverpool.

“Sometimes people speak about their players when they are injured and they don’t play, but there are injured players that play,” Mourinho said.

“And the injured players that play don’t train to play. And I had five players that didn’t train since the game against Everton; they didn’t train once.

“We felt that a little so I am happy with result because the two legs is now one leg with everything to be decided at Stamford Bridge.”

The Blues went ahead through Ivanovic’s header in an even and cagey first half.

But the French side were much improved after the interval, equalising through Edinson Cavani and forcing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to pull off several fine saves.

Mourinho said: “Our goalkeeper made two or three important saves in the game. We could lose too so I think the result is a positive one. I don’t say very good because it depends on the result of the second leg.

“But it was a positive result against a very good team – a team with fantastic attacking players. When they were losing we knew they would have a go. It was a difficult match.”

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