Thứ Tư, 9 tháng 12, 2015

Chelsea players don't lack commitment, says Thibaut​ Courtois

The EPL champions are under pressure after losing 11 of their 23 games in all competitions this season.

Chelsea players don't lack commitment, says Thibaut​ Courtois

London: Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has rejected the idea that his Chelsea team mates are lacking commitment ahead of Wednesday night`s crunch Champions League match against Porto.
Chelsea need to beat the Portuguese side to qualify as group winners although a draw will be enough to see them progress to the tournament`s knockout rounds.
The Premier League champions are under pressure after losing 11 of their 23 games in all competitions this season, including the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal and loss to Stoke City on penalties in the League Cup.
Manager Jose Mourinho has brushed off speculation that he could be sacked if his team fail to progress and Courtois said everyone at the club needed to take collective responsibility for their poor performances.
"Who says we don`t have the same commitment? Results don`t say we aren`t committed to the manager," the Belgian told the club`s website (chelseafc.com).
"Sometimes we have been better than other teams and still lost, that doesn`t say anything about our commitment, results are just not there.
"We are still confident in the manager, we are one team and we are trying to get out of it with him.
"It`s easy to say it`s only the manager but every player, every member of the technical staff has to get better and then we will be near the top again. We have to keep working hard in training."
Courtois, who returned from a three-month injury layoff in Chelsea`s 1-0 defeat by Bournemouth at the weekend, their eighth Premier League loss this season, says his team mates will play for the three points against Porto rather than just progression.
"If you play just to draw you never know what can happen in the last minute," he said.
"We will play to win. We want to give our fans a victory because this season we`ve lost too many games at home and it shouldn`t be like that.
"All the players have to improve our level, we are a team but sometimes individually we haven`t been at our best.
"You might have eight players at a top level and three a bit down but this season maybe it`s been the other way around and it`s more difficult, but we are still the same players from last season."

Courtois expecting Hazard to find scoring form

Courtois expecting Hazard to find scoring form
The Blues stopper has stressed his international and club team-mate remains a key figure at Stamford Bridge and has little doubt he will soon be back among the goals
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is confident Eden Hazard will soon be scoring goals again after an underwhelming start to the season.
The gifted attacker netted 19 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions last campaign, but has yet to find the net in 2015-16.
Nevertheless, Courtois is not worried about his compatriot's form just yet and expects plenty of goals once Hazard ends his drought.
"A lot of players who performed really well last term maybe struggle a bit to be decisive this term," Courtois said at a news conference.
"But I think Eden is very important for Chelsea. He is always dangerous with his individual actions. 
"At the moment he doesn't score, but I think he will come good. Maybe if he scores once, then a lot more goals will follow.
"With Belgium, he has also scored four goals in the last two or three months or so."

Hazard will be looking to open his account for this season on Wednesday when Chelsea meet Porto at Stamford Bridge.
Both sides have collected 10 points from five Champions League games so far and the winner, if there is one, will secure top spot in Group G.