Jose to make changes against West Ham
Manager Jose Mourinho says Chelsea will make changes against a versatile and “dangerous” West Ham on Wednesday.
The Premier League leaders are in action against the Hammers three days after their Capital One Cup victory over Tottenham in a game that could see them go eight points clear with a game in hand on second-placed Manchester City.
A Blues win and a City defeat against Leicester on the same night would put Mourinho’s men in firm control at the top.
But Mourinho is wary of the threat he faces in east London, despite West Ham’s winless run of six games in all competitions.
“West Ham is a good team; they can be everything,” said Mourinho.
“They can be defensively strong, which they showed against us a few times, but they can also be very dangerous in attack.
“They are dangerous playing their direct football but also very dangerous attacking spaces and trying to play on the counter-attack.
“They have in their hands a different way to football and a very good coach like Sam Allaryce, so it is always difficult to play them.”
Mourinho will use some of the players who did not make the starting line-up against Spurs.
Nemanja Matic is still suspended and John Mikel Obi is injured. But Didier Drogba, Loic Remy, Juan Cuadrado, Oscar, Filipe Luis and Thibaut Courtois are all pushing for recalls.
“I don’t play the same team, not the same 11 that’s for sure,” Mourinho added.
Chelsea beat Allardyce’s side 2-0 on Boxing Day and also won at Upton Park last season.
But the Hammers drew 0-0 at Stamford Bridge last term, a result which prompted Mourinho to accuse Allardyce’s team of playing “football from the 19th century”.
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