Friday 18 September 2015 23:33, UK
Jose Mourinho has backed John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic amid reports claiming Chelsea will wait until the New Year before deciding whether to offer the pair new contracts.
Terry was dropped for the 4-0 Champions League win against Maccabi Tel Aviv in midweek and was also substituted at half-time in the 3-0 loss to title rivals Manchester City last month.
Despite complaining about the form of defenders Gary Cahill, Terry and Ivanovic before Chelsea's game at West Brom last month, Mourinho said public criticism of Ivanovic had not come from him and was the work of others.
"You don't see me being critical of him," he said. "So I don't think it is a question for me because I am not making an individual analysis or trying to isolate individual players from the context."
The Portuguese also dispelled recent reports of disharmony in Chelsea's squad before launching a cryptic broadside at the media.
"I don't have any problem with any one of my players," Mourinho said.
"Normally when bad results happen the first thing that comes into your laptops, iPads and pens is to find a dramatic story: 'Somebody punched somebody in the dressing room', 'The manager doesn't want to speak with this guy'.
"'Diego Costa fought with John Terry and before they start the fight they brought a translator for them to understand each other in the fight, because Diego cannot speak English and John cannot speak Spanish'.
"'They organise it like a Wild West duels: 'At this time we are going to fight, bring a translator to help us'.
"You (the media) always go in this direction, which is funny. The other direction you don't go is the direction which is real.
"You lose matches, you are affected, you lose confidence, you don't want the ball."
The Chelsea boss confirmed Willian will be unavailable for the London derby with Arsenal and said fellow attacking midfielders Oscar and Pedro are also doubts for the game. Striker Radamel Falcao is also an injury concern for Chelsea.
