Jose Mourinho feels 'responsibility' and insists Chelsea 'must show quality' when they face Slovenian minnows MariborĀ 

  • Maribor host Chelsea in Champions League on Wednesday
  • Chelsea beat the Slovenian champions 6-0 at home two weeks ago
  • Blues boss Jose Mourinho insists his side 'must show quality' in game
  • Mourinho feels responsibility 'to play for us and to play for the people'Ā 

Jose Mourinho feels a responsibility for Chelsea to perform at their ruthless best in Wednesday night's Champions League Group G clash at Maribor in an ominous warning to his hosts.

The Blues beat the Slovenian champions 6-0 two weeks ago and know victory could seal their place in the last 16 with two games to spare, depending on the result between Sporting Lisbon and Schalke.

'I like this concept of going with a big club, full of big players to a country, a stadium, a city where normally they don't come,' Mourinho said.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, pictured during training, says his side 'must show their quality' against MariborĀ 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, pictured during training, says his side 'must show their quality' against MariborĀ 

Mourinho feels the responsibility 'to us and to the people' of Maribor to put on a good display on WednesdayĀ 

Mourinho feels the responsibility 'to us and to the people' of Maribor to put on a good display on WednesdayĀ 

Chelsea currently lead Group G and would reach 10 points with a victory against Maribor on Wednesday

Chelsea currently lead Group G and would reach 10 points with a victory against Maribor on Wednesday

'To come here, to play here, I think we have responsibility to play for us and also to play for the people.


'I know they want to win - they don't want us to win - but to play for the people is to play well, and to show what we can do, to show the quality players we have, to show the quality team we have.'

Mourinho insists he would never select a weakened team in anticipation of defeat, in a slight made towards Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring what turned out to be the winning goal at Stamford Bridge
Oscar opened the scoring for Chelsea at a quiet Stamford Bridge

Eden Hazard (left) and Oscar (right) scored a goal each to secure three points for Chelsea on Saturday

The Reds boss rested key personnel - including captain Steven Gerrard and playmaker Raheem Sterling - in losing 1-0 at European champions Real Madrid on Tuesday, but the Northern Irishman denied he was forfeiting the match.

Mourinho, whose side play at Anfield in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday lunchtime, said: 'If Liverpool decide to rest players when they play against the European champions, it's a question for the Liverpool manager - it's not a question for me.

'I don't speak about Liverpool. I speak about myself. If one day I go to a game and I don't feel I can win, maybe I don't go.

'Normally, against the most difficult opponents, normally I will try to go with my best team.'

Mourinho said after a win over QPR at Stamford Bridge felt like 'playing in an empty stadium'

Mourinho was unhappy with the crowd as Chelsea fought their way past QPR at Stamford Bridge

Mourinho, who is without striker Loic Remy (groin) and midfielder John Obi Mikel (knee), is taking nothing for granted against Maribor and described the Stamford Bridge result as 'fake'.

He said: 'The 6-0 win is a fake situation. Normally Chelsea to score goals needs a lot (of chances).

'Everything went in our direction. The first opportunity we had was a goal, the second one a goal, and so on.

'(But) I know they are a good team. I analysed them against Sporting and Schalke.

'I need to convince the players that the game at Stamford Bridge was one of these matches where everything goes in our direction.'

Meanwhile, Mourinho has admitted his criticism of Chelsea's home support may have gone too far but was an emotional response tied to his affection for the club.

John Terry (right) and Didier Drogba applaud the Chelsea fans at the end - but Mourinho was less than happy

John Terry (right) and Didier Drogba applaud the Chelsea fans at the end - but Mourinho was less than happy

The Blues boss said it felt like Chelsea were playing in an 'empty stadium' for the first half-hour of last Saturday's 2-1 win over QPR.

Supporters have responded in varying degrees of anger, bemusement and frustration - as well as agreement - to Mourinho's jibe.

'This is not, for me, just a job. It it more than that, because it's Chelsea,' Mourinho added.

'Maybe I go a little bit too far. But I see myself in the stands, watching Chelsea and I want to play, I want to help.

'If I'm not a player, I cannot play. If I'm not a coach, I cannot make decisions.

'If I'm just a fan, what can I do to help? That's just my view.'

A single Chelsea fan before a match, but Mourinho claimed the stadium feels like this during games tooĀ 

A single Chelsea fan before the match - but Mourinho claimed the whole match felt like the stadium was empty

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