Manager Jose Mourinho’s Message for this Chelsea Star

He has a lot of tactical quality the team needs.

Mourinho, asked whether he would continue to leave Hazard on the sidelines, said he wanted to see the Belgium global emulate the kind of defensive work-rate shown by Chelsea’s other wide-playing midfielders, Brazil’s Willian and Pedro of Spain.

Mourinho was charged by the Football Association in midweek for his outburst after the 3-1 defeat to Southampton and dropped the likes of Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill and Oscar to the bench from that loss.

Mourinho will be the happier manager of the two as Chelsea climb to 11th place.

“I told the players that this is not the moment to think about themselves or their personal situation, a moment to moan or try to be selfish in the approach”.

“We are just a team with a very good manager with very good players trying to reach our normal level”. I have to try and make the best decision for the team.

“If you want someone in your corner then I would back me in your corner because I’m going to keep swinging until it works”.

Costa wrestled on the floor with Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood late on in the match, neither allowing the other to stand up off the ball.

But Sherwood struck a defiant note in the aftermath of the Stamford Bridge game and is adamant he will lead Villa through their poor run his way or no way. They know those parts are controlled.

Chelsea ended up as winners due to a goal from Diego Costa and an own goal by Alan Hutton. “I don’t say enemies, I say honest and dishonest”. “But I was expecting this kind of answer”. “The result in this moment is the most important thing”.

But for Aston Villa coach Tim Sherwood, whose side have not won in the league since the opening weekend, the pressure remains intense amid media speculation his job is on the line.

Sherwood said he know his team must improve but insisted “I’ve had no indication that the clock’s ticking”.

It was a return to the first team line-up for the suspended Costa and a Premier League debut for left-back Baba Rahman.

He is not about to start pointing an accusing finger at Guzan or anyone else.

“Mistakes are there and we have to stick together”.

Sherwood added: “I can’t control what the owners do, I can only control what I can do and I remain confident in that”.