London – Jose Mourinho has told Chelsea to be on their guard as they bid to end a three-match losing streak away from Stamford Bridge when they travel to Swansea on Sunday.
Mourinho's men head to south Wales having lost on the road at Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks.
Chelsea headed into this weekend in second place in the Premier League table and buoyed by their 2-0 midweek win at home to Paris Saint-Germain that saw them into a Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid.
But Mourinho said Chelsea could take nothing for granted against a Swansea side just six points above the relegation zone.
“They are a good team, they play good football,” Mourinho said. “Especially at Swansea it is never easy and Chelsea knows that better than other teams.
“They still need the three points, they are not in big danger like other teams but they still need a couple of points to stay in the Premier League and of course they will try to get points out of this game.”
Eden Hazard is out with a calf injury, but Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are available after being ineligible in Europe and Ramires is back from a three-match ban.
Chelsea striker Demba Ba could be given a first Premier League start since October at Norwich after starring in midweek against PSG.
“People are working well and hard,” Portuguese manager Mourinho added.
“The ones that are not playing so regular, all of them are being good professionals to try to be ready.
“You could see Demba as an example as a player who doesn't play a lot and was ready to try to respond.
“All of them, they were ready. They are a good group, they are good friends, they have a good relationship.
“I think when one of them goes onto the pitch he goes to help the other players.”
Chelsea are currently second in the table, two points behind leaders Liverpool and two in front of third-placed Manchester City, who meet in Sunday's early kick-off match at Anfield.
City have two games in hand on both the Merseysiders and Chelsea but Mourinho said he had no plans to watch the clash between Chelsea's title rivals ahead of his own side's match at the Liberty Stadium.
“Maybe it is a historical day for football and they both win,” he joked. – Sapa-AFP