LONDON // Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed Petr Cech is not in contention to play in Wednesday night’s Uefa Champions League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid, despite sending the goalkeeper out to training Tuesday morning in a show of togetherness.
Cech took part in training on the eve of the contest a week after being ruled out for the season by Mourinho with a dislocated shoulder sustained in the first leg in the Spanish capital.
Cech departed after 20 minutes of last Tuesday's first leg, which finished 0-0, to be replaced by Mark Schwarzer, who is set to continue in the second leg.
Mourinho said the Czech Republic goalkeeper trained alongside injured personnel, suspended players and those fully fit to show solidarity.
“Everybody’s ready and he’s ready and that’s the message we wanted to give,” the Portuguese said. “Everybody was on the pitch.
“It’s a very important match for our group. Everybody’s together, everybody wants to help, everybody wants to play.
“His condition doesn’t allow him to play, but it’s the message from him and the group.”
Captain John Terry (ankle) was also present in training, having initially been ruled out up to the May 24 final in Lisbon, while Eden Hazard (calf) and Samuel Eto’o (knee) were also present after recent absences.
Mourinho confirmed defender Terry will start against Atletico and believes he deserves more from the Champions League after a challenging history.
Terry missed the decisive penalty in the 2008 final loss to Manchester United in Moscow, was absent for the 2012 win in Munich through suspension and was injured for last season’s Europa League final win in Amsterdam.
“I think he deserves more than the Champions League gives to him till now,” Mourinho said. “He lost a few semi-finals in special circumstances, he lost the final also in special circumstances.
“He won a final, also in special circumstances, because he couldn’t play the final. I think Champions League owes him something.
Terry confirmed he is in discussions to extend his contract, which expires at the end of the season.
“At the minute we’re in talks and it’s ongoing,” he said. “I’m hoping it gets done. It’s down to the club. They know I want to stay.”
Simeone echoes Mourinho’s winning determination ahead of clash
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone shares Jose Mourinho’s belief that winning is all that matters as the Spanish leaders bid to eliminate Chelsea from the Uefa Champions League when they clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Following a goalless draw in the semi-final first leg at the Vicente Calderon last Tuesday and Sunday’s win at Premier League leaders Liverpool, Mourinho’s defensive tactics were questioned.
Simeone did not add to the criticism, instead admitting to respecting a well-organised team such as Mourinho’s.
“I’m a football man, I respect different ways of setting out your team,” Simeone said. “You can play 10 at the back or you can play 10 at the front. It doesn’t matter. What matters is the result.
“It’s important that, regardless of how you play, that the team wins, that the club wins, that the institution as a whole wins.”
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