Blues boss plays down Courtois injury

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has played down fears that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is playing with a finger injury.

The Belgian was seen nursing his finger as he walked off at half-time during the 5-3 defeat at Tottenham on New Year’s Day.

But Mourinho is not concerned there is serious damage after Courtois insisted he was fine to continue playing.

The Blues boss said: “Courtois has a problem with one of his fingers. I asked if he could carry on but I didn’t need to ask if it was broken.”

Mourinho also insisted there was no mystery over the absence of Andre Schurrle from the matchday squad.

The Germany World Cup winner failed to even make the bench at White Hart Lane, having been substituted at half-time at Southampton on Sunday.

The 24-year-old has made only five league starts for Chelsea this season and Mourinho said the forward had simply fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “I can have only six outfield guys on the bench. Today, I gave a chance to [Mohamed] Salah to be on the bench.”

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