Jose Mourinho accepts there are frustrated and even unhappy individuals in the Chelsea dressing room but is confident such players are ready to help the team during this hectic festive period.
An exceptional start to the season means the west Londoners head to Stoke on Monday at the top of the Premier League and, in theory, able to win an unparalleled quadruple.
Mourinho joked the only quadruple he is interested in right now is a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions when the Blues play their first of five matches over the next 14 days.
Read more: Jose Mourinho says Chelsea must avoid repeat of last season’s nightmare trip to Stoke City
It is a period Chelsea look well placed to succeed over due to the strength in depth at their disposal, which sees top-quality internationals amongst those having to wait patiently for a chance.
Mourinho knows that brings with it a certain level of disgruntlement, yet believes it makes the players hungry and ready to bring the Blues success.
“I’m very club, club, team, team, club, group [orientated],” the Portuguese said.
“I think everybody has to be ready to sacrifice for the team, to give everything for the team, to think about the team, not to be selfish. This is the way I want a team to be.
“I think it is right when you say that players are unhappy or players are frustrated, that they need to be patient. I don’t have a secret to keep players happy.
“But the reality is that, to be professional and work at a high level, you don’t need to be happy. All of them are professionals.
“The team is more important than themselves, and the club [is].
“Even the ones not playing like [Mark] Schwarzer, who hasn’t played a second, but if he has to play tomorrow he would be ready. Why? Because he is very professional and he trains very well.
“We don’t have a secret to keep them happy because we don’t keep them happy.
“We may have a secret to make them work every day at a high level.”
One of those frustrated players appears to be Petr Cech, who this term has been displaced as number one by Thibaut Courtois.
Mourinho says the long-serving Czech is one of the top three goalkeepers in the world, but would have no problem bringing a fit-again Courtois back in at Stoke.
“I put the team up,” the Chelsea boss said when asked how Cech would find out.
“It’s my decision and the players may not be happy with the decision, or not agree with the decision, but they know my decision is not to favour somebody or to punish somebody.
“It’s what I think is best for the team at a certain moment. This is the way I do it.
“It’s one of the first things I say to every squad at the beginning of the season: I don’t give explanations to players unless they ask me for one.
“If somebody come to me and ask me to explain, obviously [no problem]. But, by principle, I don’t explain things.
“I have to see if Courtois is 99 per cent or 100 per cent. If he’s 99 per cent he doesn’t play for sure.
“I have to make life easy for me. If I explain to one, I have to give them all explanations. In Christmas, I’d spend all the time giving explanations.”
Mourinho gave a curt response when one Chelsea player knocked on his door - “I said [the other guy] was playing better, closed door, goodbye” - and says even the likes of Mario Balotelli and Iker Casillas did not approach him at former clubs.
“It’s the concept of helping the team,” he explained. “The one that comes on in the last five minutes, he can be a crucial player.
“If he makes a mistake, the team loses. If he does well, the team wins. It is the concept of the team - everybody wins, everybody loses.”
English Premier League results & fixtures
Saturday
Manchester City 3 Crystal Palace 0
Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1
Hull City 0 Swansea City 1
Queens Park Rangers 3 West Bromwich Albion 2
Southampton 3 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Burnley 1
West Ham United 2 Leicester City 0
Sunday
Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 1
Liverpool 2 Arsenal 2
Monday (in UAE time)
Stoke City v Chelsea, midnight
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'Nope'
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The%20specs
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Traces%20of%20Enayat
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More on animal trafficking
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Captain Marvel
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn
4/5 stars
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
'Midnights'
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Company%20profile
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Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
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Kill%20Bill%20Volume%201
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Match info
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.