Chelsea Team News: Jose Mourinho reveals shock plans to replace Branislav Ivanovic

Jose Mourinho says Ola Aina could replace Branislav Ivanovic

JOSE MOURINHO has admitted Branislav Ivanovic's replacement could be 19-year-old Ola Aina.

 

First-choice right-back Ivanovic injured his hamstring while on international duty with Serbia in midweek and is expected to be out until the end of October.

And Mourinho has admitted he's not concerned by his absence and has a list of four possible squad ‘solutions’ - one being the inclusion of teenager Aina.

He said: “We have only Ivanovic injured, and Courtois recovering. Everybody else is available.

“I have four solutions. I have Azpilicueta. I have the adaptation of Zouma or Ramires. And I have Ola Aina, an 19-year-old who never played a game in the Premier League.

“But he’s a boy with lots of potential. And he's also an option. It depends on the match, on the opponents, on our moment. But we have solutions.”

And it seems he may not be the only shock inclusion in the Blues’ side to take on Aston Villa this Saturday (3.00pm) with Ruben Loftus-Cheek also in the frame.

Mourinho added: “Ruben is with us since January, working with us every day, having the opportunity to play some matches, evolution physically, mentally, tactically. 

He's going to be, I think, a really top player. I think so. Will he start? He can. He is ready.”

Provisional Squad: Begovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Rahman, Ramires, Oscar, Falcao, Hazard, Mikel, Traore, Djilobodji, Kenedy, Pedro, Costa, Remy, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Blackman, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Collins, Aina.