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Live Coverage: Jose Mourinho's weekly Chelsea press conference

Sports Mole brings you live coverage of Jose Mourinho's pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's trip to Manchester United.
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Jose Mourinho revealed that there is little chance that Diego Costa will feature against Manchester United this weekend.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Chelsea manager confirmed that Loic Remy will miss the trip as well.

The team currently top the table, and are unbeaten in the league this season.

Read what else the manager discussed below:


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Good afternoon! Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is around 15 minutes away from starting his pre-match press conference. It's a big one for the league leaders this weekend as they travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United, who are currently 10 points back in sixth.

Chelsea head into the match off the back of a convincing 6-0 win over Maribor in the Champions League earlier this week. There could be a bit of a players shortage for Mourinho this week though, with Remy and Costa both doubts, while Drogba, who has been used sparingly so far this season, having already played this week.

Chelsea will also be missing defender Cesar Azpilicueta this weekend, as he will serve a suspension after being sent off against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Looking at the fixtures coming up for the Stamford Bridge side, Chelsea's reign at the top of the table is likely to continue throughout November. They're already five points clear of Manchester City, and play QPR, West Brom and Sunderland next month, although there is also a tricky trip to Anfield coming up.

Don't forget, if you can't watch the match on Sunday, we'll have live coverage from an hour before kickoff as well as post-match analysis and reaction.

Right then, Mourinho is ready to go, so let's see what the manager has to say ahead of this weekend's fixture.

Starting with some team news, Mourinho admits that there is "little chance" of Diego Costa featuring, as well Ramires and Mikel. The manager also confirms that Remy is definitely out with the knock he picked up in the Champions League.

On a more positive note, Mourinho tells reporters: "We are playing well, we are confident, the camp is happy and we are ready for the game."

Costa has been training individually today, and Mourinho says: "Diego was injured and he had to go to the hospital with a viral situation that we didn't manage to resolve without being in the hospital one night."

Despite the issues for Costa and Remy, Mourinho does not know whether Drogba will feature: "We are in a good moment. We play against a big team but feel in a good moment. We'll try and get the best possible result. I don't know [whether Drogba will start]. I'm telling you the truth. There was no reaction from his injury. It was good."

On the prospect of the trip to Old Trafford, Mourinho tells reporters: "We are in a good moment. We play against a big team but feel in a good moment. We'll try and get the best possible result. I like to go to Old Trafford and I like to play there. I've been there with four different clubs."

When asked about facing Louis van Gaal, Mourinho says: "Man United is Man United. It doesn't matter the manager, the player, the tables. I always look at them independent of these factors. We were never in the same league, in the Champions League you depend on draws. For me important is that I don't play against Louis, Chelsea play against Man United. He gave me a good opportunity to keep working at a high level as a young coach. To be working four consecutive years in a club like Barcelona was important."

While insisting that Chelsea will be playing for a win, Mourinho adds: "We go to every match to win but sometimes during a game you feel one point is a positive point."

When asked further about Drogba's fitness, Mouriho replies: "His contribution for the team will always be important. He was injured in the moment when Diego was fine and scoring goals. The moment Diego couldn't play and Remy can't play he understands the responsibility. What he did against Palace was brilliant. He didn't even train once and made himself available."

Chelsea are likely to face former Blues midfielder Juan Mata. Mourinho tells reporters: "Juan is a very good player and I look at him as a very good player. I don't look at him as a special player because of certain circumstances. In my career it is 20, 30, 40 players who were my players and for some reason we sold them, or they decide to leave. So for me it is not a problem, he is a very good player and very good players are dangerous. Samuel Eto'o was the same, he played against Chelsea and did his job scoring his goal. Juan Mata is a good player, no more than that."

With Azpilicueta out, Mourinho is full of praise for Felipe Luis: "It's not easy to kick Azpilicueta out of the team. Our defenders are very young. We decided to bring a player to have a group of five. Felipe is playing a lot, he's in perfect condition. Very stable, experienced."

That's all from Mourinho this week, but join us again on Sunday to find out if Chelsea can maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

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Chelseas Ivorian striker Didier Drogba is pictured during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on August 23, 2014
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