Mourinho has no worries about Hilario

12 April 2012

Jose Mourinho has faith in goalkeeper Henrique Hilario to keep Barcelona at bay.

Chelsea's third-choice keeper has been thrust into Wednesday night's Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge because both Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini are injured. Cech's fractured skull could keep him out of action for months but, for now, the Chelsea boss is backing summer signing Hilario to repel Frank Rijkaard's European champions.

Mourinho said: "Hilario is no kid. He's 30 years old. He's played game after game in the first division and has played the odd Champions League game. He is calm, prepared, he is taking his time."

He added: "It was only Saturday when he found out he would be playing because of the injuries to the two goalkeepers but, since then, he has been busy preparing, doing his homework as goalkeepers do.

"He came here knowing he was going to be third choice and third choice goalkeepers don't normally play.

"If you were to ask me the third choice goalkeeper of Barca, Madrid, Manchester United or Arsenal I wouldn't be able to tell you. They're normally anonymous but now he gets a great chance to play against the champions of Europe.

"He will go into the game with a great mix of emotions. He is going to be excited but at the same time he will have a mix of sadness because of the absence of his great friend and the way his great friend got hurt."

Cech, injured against Reading on Saturday, is still in hospital but has improved significantly since Monday when Mourinho and the Chelsea players visited and were shocked by his condition. The Czech keeper has asked for a television so he can watch his team-mates in action against Barcelona.

Cudicini, out with concussion after he was knocked unconscious after replacing Cech against Reading, expects to be back in contention after the weekend.

Mourinho said: "At this moment we have one keeper. We will have two again next week because we think Carlo can be back. Two goalkeepers is short for a whole season and maybe we need to find a solution."

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