Given the bad blood that exists between Chelsea and Arsenal ever since Mourinho called Gunners boss Arsene Wenger a “success at failure” what would normally be nothing more than a pre-season warm-up between the title holders and the FA Cup winners could well be a match that outlines what we can expect for the season ahead.
Troubling for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is that he has two potential problems to deal with before the season even gets going, after both defender Gary Cahill and striker Diego Costa picked up injuries in last night’s friendly 2-2, 4-2 penalty win over Barcelona in Washington D.C.
Spanish striker Costa suffered a strain to his long-time hamstring worries, while England defender Gary Cahill may have suffered a broken nose.
“Cahill has a chance of a broken nose, maybe yes, maybe no,” Mourinho said.
“If he’s not perfect, he goes tomorrow to make a mask to be ready to play on Sunday.
“Diego felt a little thing in his hamstring. We believe just a feeling, no more than that, but we have to wait.”
