Chelsea News: Latest Comments, Media Reports and Team News

Chelsea go to Villa Park for Saturday evening's televised match against Aston Villa looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

With Liverpool and Arsenal not playing until Sunday, only Manchester City can make a small inroad into the Blues' lead.

Even a win will still leave them six points behind Jose Mourinho's men before Chelsea play in the 5:30 p.m. GMT kick-off.

That's likely to return to nine points given Chelsea's recent record against Villa, as detailed by BBC Match of the Day's Twitter account:

The Portuguese appears none too happy at the scheduling of the game, coming as it does just three days before a Champions League knockout fixture with Galatasaray.

That, and a number of other stories surrounding the Stamford Bridge side dominate Saturday's newspapers.

Let's take a look at some of the latest reports and comments below, along with team news for today's game.

Mourinho argues for Friday night fixtures

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With English teams struggling in Europe again this season, Blues manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the wisdom of the authorities in scheduling Premier League fixtures so close to European competition.

According to Dominic Fifield in The Guardian, the Portuguese also noted the negative effect on title-rivals Manchester City:

"

Do people not care that English teams are struggling in Europe? Why don't they? I care.

Would it [re scheduling] be good for English football and for Chelsea? Yes. But I'm trying to get this for all of us, not just for me.

For example, I don't understand why City, a team who must come from Europe on Wednesday night, must play at 12.45pm on Saturday.

"

It's a valid point. Not so long ago, English teams were the most feared in Europe but now the pendulum has swung towards the Bundesliga and La Liga.

Although Mourinho's methods for getting the point across are sometimes questionable, there's no denying that he often makes a cogent and relevant argument to back up his claims.

Friday night fixtures, prior to a Tuesday game in the Champions League surely makes a lot of sense.

Indeed, Galatasaray will arrive at Stamford Bridge having had a full 24 hours extra rest than their hosts. Should their fresher approach see the Blues go tumbling out, Mourinho's cries will be deafening.

Lambert talks up John Terry's England claims

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After Chelsea's 4-0 win over Tottenham, Blues captain John Terry told Sky TV panellist Glenn Hoddle during his live post-match interview that his England days were behind him.

Villa manager Paul Lambert is another who agrees with Hoddle. Per John Wragg of The Express, when asked if Terry should form the backbone of the English defence he said:

"

The way he is playing and the way Terry is as a defender, definitely, yes.

John Terry coming back and playing as well as he is has certainly given them that boost. 

Cahill and Terry, at this minute, you'd say they are up there as the best defensive partnership in the country.

"

Their ominous defensive presence, which has seen Chelsea only lose three of the 35 games in which Terry has played, is likely to be a major factor in the outcome of Saturday's result.

Villa's 31 goals scored is the lowest in the top half of the Premier League and despite a convincing 4-1 victory last time out against Norwich, Lambert's side have remained goalless in three of their last five.

Hardly the sort of form to trouble John Terry.

Team News

Jose Mourinho should be fairly happy with the staff he has to choose from for the trip to Villa Park.

Fernando Torres remains a doubt with a groin strain, according to the Daily Mail, but David Luiz (groin) and Ashley Cole (knee) are definitely out.

With both Samuel Eto'o and, when called upon, Demba Ba, both in good goalscoring form, it's debatable that Torres would get a starting berth in any event. A place on the bench may represent the Spaniard's best hope for this game.

John Terry and Gary Cahill continue their partnership in the heart of the Blues back four. A pairing that has seen Chelsea only concede four goals in the Premier League since the final game of 2013, per WhoScored.com.

Branislav Ivanovic continues to deny Cesar Azpilicueta a place on the right side of the back four, so the latter reverts, as he has done many times this season, to the left-back berth in place of Cole.

A consistently higher rating, per WhoScored, than other personnel in the back line over the last half dozen games, shows the Spaniard's ability in the position.

Eden Hazard continues to represent Chelsea's biggest threat going forward. The Belgian is having a storming season, his 13 goals and seven assists comfortably the best in the team.