Jose Mourinho makes surprising Cole Palmer claim ahead of Chelsea Champions League clash

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Jose Mourinho brought Chelsea their first Premier League title in 50 years, but now he’s facing off against his old club as the new Benfica manager.

Chelsea will look at the upcoming Champions League fixture as a must-win, after a disappointing stretch of results.

It’s just one win in the last five, and pressure on Enzo Maresca is mounting.

But The Special One will be doing his best to make sure Chelsea’s struggles continue when he makes his Stamford Bridge return.

Ahead of the tie, Mourinho has discussed one player’s absence and the difference he thinks it will make.

Jose Mourinho speaks on Cole Palmer’s absence

Mourinho is never shy about speaking his mind, and he was frank when discussing Cole Palmer’s injury, which has him sidelined for the next few weeks.

In an interview for the Daily Mail, the Portuguese manager was asked about Chelsea’s star player being out. He said: “I’m happy with that. He’s a phenomenal player. But I think they have a good team, in a way that if Cole Palmer doesn’t play, it’s not a problem for them.

“If [Heorhiy] Sudakov doesn’t play or if [Vangelis] Pavlidis doesn’t play, I am in big trouble. But for Chelsea, no problem.”

Mourinho claims Chelsea have the depth to manage without the Englishman, though you wouldn’t be overly surprised if that was a tactical claim to maintain his side’s underdog status.

The fact is, Chelsea have struggled without Palmer. Of course, the red cards haven’t made his fitness issues any easier to deal with.

Mourinho praises Chelsea but says they need a win

Both sides failed to pick up their first points of the league phase in the opening round of fixtures.

Mourinho is never short on confidence, but he respects what Chelsea can do at their best.

As he puts it: “I know that Chelsea is a top team, with fantastic players, a good coach, big statues and are world champions. They also lost the first match so they of course need the points.”

• READ MORE: Enzo Maresca makes Jose Mourinho claim ahead of Champions League showdown with Blues legend

The trophies Chelsea picked up last season indicate to Mourinho that this team can go on to do good things under Maresca.

He explains: “Even the Conference League is a fantastic competition for a team like that to win. It gives you that first cup and the philosophy and the culture of the club for winning.

“If you cannot win the Premier League, you win something, so they won the Conference League. Then they go to the States and come back with the big badge on the chest, so now they have a good, good team.”

Mourinho still has love for the club he left 18 years ago, but when he arrives at the Bridge on Tuesday, all that goes out the window. He will be hunting for the win.