Chelsea FC Team News: Costa doubtful. Ramires, Drogba, Mikel, and Schurrle all need late fitness tests.
This same match last season effectively ended Chelsea’s title challenge, with the Blues losing 1-0 after a John Terry own-goal. It was a disappointing performance and a match that Mourinho believes they deserved to lose:
“It was one of those games where I deserved to lose, I accept that in a normal way. It is easy for me to analyse. In every aspect of the game they were better than us.”
This time round though, Palace have to do without the manager that saved them from relegation and put the Eagles on a sound footing in the Premier League, following the departure of Tony Pulis in August.
It’s a new/old replacement at Selhurst Park in Neil Warnock who has returned for a second spell in charge at the club. Warnock hasn’t been backward in coming forward in his praise for Mourinho and this season’s Chelsea team, even going so far as to say they could emulate the Arsenal team of 2003/04 and go through the season unbeaten.
It’s a key match for Chelsea. Thankfully it appears as though most of the major players are fit enough to be considered to start the match, including Fabregas and Hazard who will have significant roles to play if they are to break what is likely to be a stubborn and well motivated Palace team.
With a Champions League tie against Maribor on Tuesday and a trip to Old Trafford and a reunion with his old boss Louis van Gaal on Saturday week, Mourinho may well have one eye on the other matches coming up and want to get this game won quickly and look to rest the likes of Oscar, Willian, Schurrle (if fit), and Hazard.
Whether Chelsea will be able to rest key players is to be seen. If Costa is to miss this game, it’s up to Loic Remy to prove that he can step up to the plate and carry on where Costa has left off.
The French international has already shown in his brief appearance against Swansea that he can score, and should Hazard and Cesc start, he has no excuses.
Palace are almost at full strength, but will be missing Scott Dann, which should mean a start for fomer Fulham man Brede Hangeland, which should excite one or two of the Chelsea attackers.
Score Prediction: