Mourinho proud of Chelsea business: ‘Chelsea are doing things well’

Jose Mourinho says it was 'a question of pride' that led the club to strictly adhere to financial fair play regulations during the transfer window, while adding that Loic Remy should be healthy for Saturday's match against Swansea.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has no concerns over the fitness of Loic Remy after the striker moved to Stamford Bridge only after reports of a failed medical when he was on the verge of a switch to Liverpool.

The France striker could make his Chelsea debut in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Swansea after becoming Mourinho’s final summer signing, joining after Fernando Torres had left for AC Milan on a two-year loan.

Chelsea medical director Paco Biosca’s assessment was that there was no issue with Remy, who signed from QPR for a reported £10.5 million (Dh62.7m), and Mourinho was uncertain why Liverpool pulled out of a deal for the striker.

“We don’t have Liverpool’s report,” Mourinho said.

“The final conclusion (of Chelsea’s medical) was the same conclusion that the France federation medical department had before the World Cup, which was that the player has no problems and can play football.

“If a player fails a medical it should be something very, very intimate, very personal between the player and the club.

“But the way almost every club does it, it looks like the medical is not any more a private situation.”

Remy is one of three Chelsea strikers alongside Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, who has netted four times in his first three games.

The trio have replaced Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba, who played upfront last season.

“We had a good group of strikers last season, but we changed three for three and we believe that these three give us more, in relation to the football we want to play,” Mourinho added.

Romelu Lukaku was also sold to Everton, where he spent last term on loan, for a healthy profit as Chelsea sold wisely as well as bought well in the summer.

Mourinho believes it is a matter of “pride” for Chelsea to comply to Financial Fair Play laws as rivals test the implementation of the regulations.

There is a determination at Stamford Bridge to adhere to the regulations under billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who embarked on a mighty spending spree when he took control of the club 11 years ago.

“Chelsea are doing things well, not just because it has to be by the rule, by the legal point of view, but also a question of pride,” Mourinho said.

“It’s something that Mr Abramovich is proud of, and something everybody who works in the club is proud of.

“From my point of view, as a first-team manager and coach, I’m enjoying the situation.

“To buy you have to sell. To sell, you have to decide what you are going to sell, why, when ... all these question marks, I enjoy.”

Chelsea have 26 players on loan, but Mourinho has spoken of the potential for many of those to be future first-team stars, while also incorporating young talent such as England under-20s captain Lewis Baker in his first-team squad this season.

Still Chelsea had to send Marco van Ginkel on loan to AC Milan to comply with Uefa regulations over homegrown players in Champions League squads.

Manchester City seem to have dodged the rule – instead of having four homegrown players, City have just one – but Mourinho declined to comment on rival teams, preferring to focus on Chelsea.

The majority of the club’s transfer business took place early, with Costa a long-term target and impressing so much that he was named Premier League player of the month for August.

Garry Monk, Mourinho’s opposite number in the dugout on Saturday, received the manager’s award.

“Finally we have a player of the month, which Diego deserved and my team deserved that one of the boys is the player of the month,” said Mourinho, who was frustrated Eden Hazard and others were often overlooked for the monthly award last term.

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