3 strikers Chelsea could sign in January after Diego Costa slump

Pochettino’s men sealed a historic 5-3 triumph over Chelsea at White Hart Lane in January and the Argentinean vividly remembers how Mourinho reacted to the crushing defeat.

He said: “Nobody speaks about them as title contenders like they speak about Manchester City, United, this and that”. The club is powerful enough to decide they don’t have to sell and they can invest. They build a team. They have a great squad and a great coach and I’m sure they will improve.

Although never a world-class player, Adebayor has had a good career in the Premier League and could be a smart signing on a free. “But the conditions are very good”.

The Premier League champions have linked linked with a host of strikers ahead of the winter transfer window including Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, Harry Kane and the Premier League’s current top scorer Jamie Vardy.

“I don’t want to say that it’s impossible that he plays, because maybe he plays and you’ll say I was hiding”, Mourinho said.

“They are ready. I am not saying Papy Djilobodji is ready because he did not have chances to play and his is a different situation, but Zouma and Cahill are both ready and if John doesn’t play, I go with them”. And good players, which they have.

“They have this season an even better team than last season”. They had good chances but Asmir Begović saved us at 1-0.

The victory did, though, provided Chelsea with successive wins for just the second time this season.

Jose Mourinho claimed he and Diego Costa kissed and made up after their public bust-up at Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

“I wanted him to do a certain movement that he didn’t”, said Mourinho of the striker, who ended a six-match scoreless run against Norwich. “He told me a few “nice words” from where he was”.

“He’s not reading the game properly”. That was my opinion.

Fabregas’ average pass accuracy of 84% in the top flight this season has also been impressive, but the midfielder hasn’t been quite as effective in terms of getting on the ball in key areas and dictating play.

Team selection will be crucial for what is a highly-anticipated game, so let’s take a crack at predicting the Chelsea starting eleven.

“You’re not on fire again just because you’ve scored a goal against Norwich. It will be a process”.

John Terry (ankle) and Ramires (muscular) are injury doubts for the visitors.

“We will see (today) if Kane plays, ” Pochettino added ahead of the Group J encounter.