Mourinho looks for balance in Blues
Rather than send his front-line players into battle swiftly after a loss which saw Chelsea’s Premier League advantage wiped out, Mourinho is likely to rotate his options after an arduous festive schedule.
“Obviously we are going to rest a couple of players. That’s normal,” he said.
“And give a chance to other people to play and to show (what they can do).
“We want to try to beat Watford, but at the same time we have to analyse the players’ condition and make the right decision for them.”
Striker Diego Costa and forward Eden Hazard are among the front-line Chelsea players who could be rotated out of the starting XI.
Petr Cech could replace Thibaut Courtois in goal, depending on the severity of the latter’s finger injury, while Oscar, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic could also be afforded a rest after the 5-3 loss at White Hart Lane.
Rather than turn to youth, like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Dominic Solanke or Lewis Baker, Mourinho is planning to field players who have been on the first-team periphery this term, like Ramires, who has been hampered by a niggling groin injury, but remains an integral figure in the season run-in.
“I have players from the first-team and players we need to have in condition to play,” Mourinho said. “Hopefully Ramires is getting there step by step. He played 45 minutes (against Tottenham). He’s a player we need and he’s a player we haven’t had for the first part of the season. When we had him he was not really ready and finally he looks like he’s almost getting there.”
Mourinho is yet to ascertain the extent of Courtois’s finger problem but has a more than capable deputy in Cech.
“He (Courtois) has a problem in one of his fingers. Let’s see what happens.
“I don’t know (if it’s broken). I didn’t ask. I just asked if he could carry on at half-time (at Spurs).”
While Chelsea’s early season dominance is now being tested, with a championship title battle in swing, the FA Cup could be deemed a distraction, but Mourinho’s approach has not changed.
“It’s impossible to go for one trophy, or two, or three, or four,” he said.
“It’s only possible to go for the next match. And the next match is FA Cup and we want to try to win the FA Cup. Simple as that.”
Skipper John Terry meanwhile expects the Blues to respond to seeing their advantage over defending Premier League champions City evaporate.
“We were eight points in front and now we’re level on points. It’s disappointing to have lost that lead but we said in the dressing room we’ll come together, put a run together and hopefully get a lead again.”
The defeat at Spurs could have many ramifications, not least for the title race and Mourinho, who invited scrutiny on the performance of referee Phil Dowd at White Hart Lane and could face FA disciplinary action. Cahill could also be punished retrospectively for kicking Spurs striker Harry Kane in the back.
Terry believes Chelsea are being ill-treated by officials wary of the Blues’ reputation.
The captain said: “I think the refs have to come into the games with a clear mind and judge each game as it is. You can’t go into a game thinking ’someone did this, someone did that’.
“There are reputations out there, but the referees have got to come into it with a clear mind and I think the last two games we have been denied two clear penalties.”
Watford midfielder Daniel Tozser says it would be folly to go into the tie fearful of the Premier League side.
“It will be a pleasure for the guys to play against a team like this. We have nothing to be afraid of, nothing to lose. This is a game we have to enjoy. If we really want to show what we can do, we must not be afraid. Then, I think the supporters will be happy and will applaud us.”
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