Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United are not suffering an injury crisis ahead of their visit to Chelsea – because they boast an 'amazing' squad.
United boss Louis Van Gaal says Daley Blind, Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Marcus Rojo are out of tomorrow's clash at Stamford Bridge – leaving him short of defensive options.
But Mourinho claimed: “I disagree that they are weakened because their squad is amazing, in numbers, players, experience, solutions. Their squad is amazing.
“Every week I have in my office not the team I'm going to play against, but on the big screen the squad and all the options. This week, when I arrived in the room, for the first time in the week, I realised what they have. It's amazing.
“You want me to name their players? Mata, Di Maria, Januzaj, Rooney, Van Persie, Herrera, Carrick, Blind, Fellaini...
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“In defence they have Rafael and Valencia, Luke Shaw left-back, centre-backs Smalling... of course they don't have Evans and Jones, but Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair. They have played. Van Gaal is a fantastic coach to develop players. The kids played a lot of matches and are more than ready.
“I went to QPR with Didier Drogba and no strikers on the bench and, for a long time, because of suspensions or injuries or your suspensions – I don't forget that 'you' (the TV companies) decided who was suspended – we were in trouble.
“But you have to cope with it. I know Mr Van Gaal very well, and he's the kind of person to think at this moment that we have a fanastic squad and will go with what we have. Injuries are part of the game.
“To play Man United is to play against one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the best teams in the Premier League. And I think this is what everybody wants. This week I was not worried about motivating players or demanding players to be focused on the game and the opponent, because there is no need. It's an easy job. It is a special fixture.”
Mourinho says Loic Remy has a better than 50-50 of returning to lead Chelsea's attack – while Diego Costa could be back from a hamstring injury to face Arsenal, ahead of schedule, next weekend.
He said: “Costa's progressing very well. I think he has a chance for the next weekend, but our target was for Diego to play the last four matches.
“Arsenal is the sixth match from the end, so if he doesn't play Arsenal or Leicester, it's not a problem. Our focus was on four.
“But things are going so well, at this moment we think he has a chance for next weekend. He's training. Not with the rest of the squad. He'll start training with the rest of the squad next week.”
Mourinho claims everyone at Chelsea is happy to see Juan Mata thriving at United as the Spaniard makes his first return to Stamford Bridge since a £37.1million move last January.
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The Chelsea boss said: “He's a player with a history in this club. Every player in this club has deep respect for him as a player, as does the manager.
“We all wished him the best when he left. We are all happy with him: a very correct boy, total professional. We're happy things are going well with him.”
And Mourinho revealed that Jurgen Klopp has assured him he is not after his Chelsea job after quitting Borussia Dortmund this week.
Klopp said: “He's a very good coach, but I have no idea if he comes to the Premier League. He's a very good coach, we are good friends.
“If he comes, I'd welcome him. But he told me he's not coming to Chelsea, for sure. And he told me that personally, so I'm calm!”