Chelsea: Mourinho expects tough Schalke test

Jose Mourinho (Action Images)

 

 Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is expecting their clash with Schalke 04 on Tuesday evening to be their toughest Champions League test yet.

The Blues lost their opener in this year’s competition 2-1 to Swiss champions FC Basel at Stamford Bridge before comprehensively beating Steaua Bucharest 4-0 on matchday two.

Schalke, meanwhile, have won both of their European fixtures so far this term and Mourinho is planning for a tough game in Gelsenkirchen tonight.

He told reporters: “It’s difficult for a team to be at maximum power, to play a match without somebody missing through injury or suspension.

“They miss a couple of players, but us too. Ashley Cole is an important player for us and is not playing. That’s not a big deal. A team is a squad, not 11 players, and they have a squad with players to replace.
“We know about Schalke. They pose a real threat,’ the Portuguese added. ‘They look solid defensively – it’s a tough game.”