Jose Mourinho has put his faith in Tiago as the pursuit of Michael Essien continues.
Chelsea are still determined to pursue Michael Essien despite Lyon holding out for a huge transfer fee, and boss Jose Mourinho has also reinforced his faith in Tiago after the Portuguese midfielder was rumoured to be offered as a makeweight in any deal.Reports in the English media on Sunday had indicated that Chelsea were considering ending their lengthy campaign to bring Ghanaian star Essien to Stamford Bridge after they failed on numerous occasions to have their approaches met with a positive response from the French champions.
Lyon are holding out for £30 million plus a player for their midfield ace, who has been removed from the squad to face Le Mans on Sunday due to illness, although ceded some ground in agreeing to a meeting with Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
Mourinho admitted that negotiations had been hampered by his boss's extreme wealth, although again publicly stated his desire to make Essien the latest, and most expensive, addition to his Premiership winning squad.
"There is a market, there is a price, there are some rules around the market, and just because our owner is Mr Roman Abramovich we cannot make what is not correct," Mourinho told Sky Sports News.
"But I would love for the correct price, for the correct chase, I would like very much to have the player, yes."
The former Porto coach also moved to play down growing speculation that Tiago could be sacrificed to ease an accord with the French outfit, denying that such an arrangement has been brokered and reiterating the midfielder's value to the squad.
"Nobody has put it to me in that way," Mourinho continued.
"The only thing I can say about Tiago is that I'm very, very happy with what he did for us last season.
"The first year in English football coming from Portuguese football its not easy to adapt and he did well for us and this season is a player that I trust very, very much."
Chelsea, including chief executive Peter Kenyon, have been openly criticised by Lyon supremo Jean Michel Aulas for their public courting of Essien.
In the wake of the Ashley Cole affair Mourinho suggested that such accusations were becoming an increasing trend as he stated: "At the moment it is very easy to say things about Jose, and to say things about Chelsea and Peter Kenyon, it is fashion now to speak about it."
The saga surrounding the Arsenal star has irreparably soured relations between the capital's two leading clubs, and Mourinho admitted that as it stands he is not concerned that the Premiership top two clubs have no working relationship.
"It does not concern me, no relations, so no problem, so that's what I hope can happen.
"What concerns me? No problems as I have no relations.
"When you a have a relationship, even a very close relationship, you have problems now and again, friends, parents, wives, good relationship, love, but sometimes problems.
"No relation, no problem."
Mourinho was fined £200,000 after being found guilty of making an illegal approach for the left back, and, despite not holding out much hope for a successful appeal, insisted he had no regrets over the unsavoury affair.
"I'm not hopeful when I was punished I was confident I was not going to be and I was so now I cannot be confident.
"No, [I have] no regrets."
