Jose Mourinho confirmed that he has spoken with his players about their exit from the Champions League earlier this week.
Although the manager did not reveal the nature of the discussion, he insisted that all of his players are willing to play against Southampton this weekend to put their exit behind them.
Mourinho also insisted that he has now new injury concerns following the extra-time draw with Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.
Read what else the manager discussed below.
Good afternoon! Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is due to speak to the media shortly as his side try to put their Champions League disappointment to one side by strengthening their hold at the top of the Premier League.
Wednesday's extra-time clash with Paris Saint-Germain will surely have taken it's toll on the players. The players have been working at the team's Cobham training ground this morning though, and all looked in good spirits as they headed out this morning:
With Nemanja Matic returning from suspension and injury on Wednesday, the only player likely to be ruled out this weekend is John Obi Mikel, who has been sidelined while recovering from knee surgery, so Mourinho should have numbers available if he feels the need to rest some of the players that featured midweek.
With no involvement in the Champions League or FA Cup to distract them between now and the end of the season, Chelsea will be keen to redouble their efforts on clinching the league title. Mourinho's side will face relegation candidates Hull City and QPR over the next month, as well as Stoke City, so will be optimistic that they can keep Man City behind them for the time being.
If you want to remind yourself about Chelsea's last Premier League title, why not check out today's On This Day feature, which relives the team's 4-1 win over West Ham United in 2010, which moved the side back to the top of the table.
We'll have live coverage of this, and every other Premier League fixture taking place this weekend, from an hour prior to kickoff, plus loads of build up, post-match reaction and player ratings, so make sure you're with us on Sunday afternoon to see if Chelsea can clinch the victory. They were held to a draw when the sides met at St Mary's earlier in the campaign though.
Right then, the manager is ready to talk to the press, so let's see what he has to say this week...
While the manager gets himself settled, let's take a look at John Terry's quotes ahead of this match. The captain told the club's website: "We have to pick ourselves up and go again at the weekend because it's another big game against a very good Southampton side. It's a massive one to go for, we're a few points clear and we need to keep that gap. We can only do that by responding and picking up three points at the weekend. We can't stay down because Southampton will come here on the front foot, they're playing well and if we're not at it we'll drop points."
Right then, it finally looks like Mourinho is ready to get underway, so let's hear from the manager...
Understandably, the first topic of conversation is the Champions League exit, but the manager says: "I reflect with the players, not with you. I had a meeting with the players. I'm working for the future. I don't have to share with you. We were speaking and discussing and were very interactive."
Mourinho is asked about Zlatan Ibrahimovic's comments, describing Chelsea as babies, but the manager isn't in any mood to talk about it: " If you want to speak about the Champions League you have to go to Wenger or Pellegrini as they're still in the Champions League. We're out of the Champions League. We were not good enough, we didn't make the result we needed."
Despite Mourinho's obvious unwillingness to talk about PSG, Mourinho is pushed, and is asked about his players surrounding the referee, but he says: "If they surround the referee we are charged and we have to pay a fine. If they do that then the players have to pay the fine. We were charged one. Go to the Premier League and see how many teams were charged. All I can says is Chelsea were charged once."
Mourinho insists that he wants to be positive going into this match: "Be optimistic, be positive. We want to beat Southampton. We cannot promise we will win the Premier League but we are optimistic."
Mourinho said after the Champions League exit that his side struggled with the pressure, but he doesn't think that will be an issue in the league: "We start the season on the same points as Man City. "We now have five more points. I think in this moment it is easier. We failed in a knockout game. We didn't fail in knockout against Liverpool. We fail against Bradford. The reality is we don't lose a game since then. I'm not like you in that you go with the wind. I trust my players when I win and when I lose. We lose together and we win together."
Mourinho is still being pressed about the Champions League, this time being asked about Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness's comments after the match. He responds: "The world is a bit strange, maybe because of diets and the products we are eating. Memories are a bit short. When Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness speak about it they are having problems. I was in the tunnel when the game finished. I shook their hands and told them good luck for the future."
Mourinho insists that winning the Premier League and the Capital One Cup will be a good season for the club: "Our future is try to win the Premier League. If we win that and the Capital One Cup it is a brilliant season."
Finally, Mourinho gets to talk about this weekend's match, and he confirms that he has no new injuries of note: "My doctor told me after the game maybe we have a couple of injuries because we lost. I told the doctor I don't believe. Zero injuries. Everyone wants to play."
Well, that's it from a slightly grouchy Mourinho this week. Join us again on Sunday to see whether Chelsea can lift their manager's spirits with a win over Southampton. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye!
