Jose Mourinho today backed the Premier League’s decision to have La Marseillaise sung before every match this weekend as a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris last week.
The Premier League decided to follow the Football Association’s tribute during the England-France friendly in midweek with their own mark of respect.
Mourinho said: “I don’t need the anthem to feel sorry for the victims or for the families that are suffering or a country that was a strong target. But it’s a nice way to do it and I’m more than happy to participate in it.
“I think my reaction to what happened is the same of everyone. My power to help is obviously nothing. But we are in a football world that is quite powerful in terms of a way to show feelings, solidarity.
“The reality of football is that it’s very powerful and probably the England-France match was the best example of that. We can just use power of our game to show solidarity and unity.”
Wembley pays tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attacks
All grounds will be having extra security before the match due to fears that more matches could be targeted, just as France vs Germany was last Friday. Mourinho admits it is a concern, but will put it to the back of his mind.
He added: “I don’t know what to say. Anything can happen in every corner in the world and it is something I don’t want to think about too much.
“I want to enjoy my life, my work. Yes I’m a bit worried but for sure I go to Stamford Bridge tomorrow and just focus on the job, the game and I want to give the fans a victory which they deserve.
“Everybody has feelings and everyone in the squad lived the week in different ways. Some guys were involved in matches that were played, some that couldn’t be played.
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“Everyone lived the week in quite an emotional way, now it’s time to live, to work and that’s the message everyone in politics sends, to live a normal life.”
Meanwhile, Mourinho has confirmed keeper Thibaut Courtois will return from a knee injury in time to face Bournemouth on December 5.
