Mourinho: Working With The Whole Team

Last season’s home match against Crystal Palace burns bright in the memory and immediately following the title-clincher back in May, Jose Mourinho highlighted the performance of Alan Pardew’s side as indicative of the Premier League.

He stated: ‘Palace played like it was a crucial game for them and that was the pure feelings of football.’

Speaking at his pre-match media conference this Friday afternoon ahead of a rematch with the Eagles at the other end of a football season, the Chelsea manager expects another tough test.

‘This is a different match but with the same need to get the three points,’ Mourinho said. 

‘Last season was to win the title, this season it is to try to recover positions we lost with two bad results at the opening of the Premier League.

‘Crystal Palace are always a difficult opponent and they have even better players than last season and an even better team than last season. A London derby is always a London derby and for them Stamford Bridge is a huge motivation.

‘But I see my team coming and we had a good game and good result last weekend,’ he emphasised, adding that another good week of training has followed the one that heralded the win at West Brom.

‘That result had a bit of an influence on the happiness of the group and hopefully we can get three more points before the period of international games.

‘We have worked on a few things on defending in training, such as defending with nine men. We also worked on tactical aspects to improve the team. I didn’t just work the defenders, I worked the team because you have to defend as a team. You cannot blame defenders for goals conceded because a team is a team and good one defends as a team.’

Mourinho told reporters he is unsure whether Crystal Palace will play an open game at the Bridge on Saturday afternoon, or more defensively and without a main striker with the hope of profiting from counter-attacks, the tactic Alan Pardew deployed in his 1-0 defeat against us at the end of last season. The quality of the strikers currently at the Eagles’ disposal may influence the thinking reckons the Blues boss.

A win for Chelsea will take us back above the Selhurst Park side who are currently fifth after the three games played, and Mourinho finds it hard to understand why there have been so many stories analysing his side at such an early stage of the campaign.

‘The most important thing of this start of the season is that it is not normal in three matches to have two penalties against and you play with 10 men twice,’ he added.

‘We have played one match at home, two matches away and have four points which is not what we want but it is not a drama. We know we can improve and are going to improve. This is the Premier League and when you are five points behind the leader in another league, that can be complicated. In the Premier League it is not complicated.'

Missing Co-Pilot, Peter Bello Confirmed Dead.

 
Such a tragedy. Rescuers this morning recovered the body of the pilot and co-pilot of the ill fated helicopter that crashed into the Lagos Lagoon yesterday. Peter Bello was the co-pilot. Friends have taken to social media to express their grief. Heard he was the only son of his parents. So sad. May his soul rest in peace,

Helicopter crashes into Lagos Lagoon, two people rescued alive

A Bristol helicopter crashed into the Lagoon at the Oworonshoki area of Lagos this afternoon. Spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident and said a rescue team is on their way to the scene of the incident. Two people have been rescued from the scene.

National Hospital Live-Tweeted An Open Heart Surgery

 
National Hospital Abuja live-tweeted the surgery earlier yesterday on its official account. The operation was an open heart surgery (Ventricular Septal Defect Repair) on an eight-year-old patient. Dr. Tayo Haastrup told BBC that it was done to show Nigeria's expertise to the world. Source: Nat. Hospital

Nicki Minaj Says She's Not Pregnant

Nicki Minaj says she is not pregnant with Meek Mill's baby. Yes she called Meek her “baby father" on Saturday in Pittsburgh but sources close to her say she uses the phrase "baby father" a lot, that she has used the term at least twice on this tour, but it's not the same as "father of my child." They say it's just a term of endearment for those she likes. She's even referred to Lil Wayne as her baby daddy in the past, even though they're just friends. She maintains that there will be a wedding first before they have a baby.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade Dies At 85

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has died at the age of 85. Family sources say he died at about 5pm yesterday after a brief illness. He was reportedly flown to UK in an air ambulance after he became unconscious following his illness. The late Oba is survived by wives and children. May his soul rest in peace Amen.

President Buhari sacks all Service Chiefs

President Buhari has sacked all Service Chiefs. Their sack was made known by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina while he spoke to state house correspondents this afternoon. The fired service chiefs include the Chief of Defence staff, and the heads of Army, Navy and the Air Force. More details later.

Detained ex Jigawa gov, Sule Lamido and two sons flown to Abuja

Nigerian Prison sources say ex Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido and his two sons Aminu and Mustapha, have been flown to Abuja this morning ahead of the court hearing for their bail application holding tomorrow July 14th. The former Governor and sons who are standing trial for allegedly collecting bribe totaling N1.35 billion from government contractors when he was governor, were on July 9th ordered to be remanded in Kano Prisons by Justice Evelyn Anyadike.

How A Brave Nigerian Soldier Fought Boko Haram Militant In A Hand Combat

Kate Henshaw Finally Speaks On Fire Incident At Her Home

Actress Kate Henshaw, whose Lekki home was gutted by a fire last week (see here) took to her Instagram page today to thank all who have reached out to her. She wrote; 'With a heart full of immense gratitude, I want to thank all my fans, friends on social media, who sent messages and words of encouragement for the incident that happened last week. I appreciate the love, care and concern. The good Lord bless you all and cause His face to shine on you, may He be gracious unto you and give you peace!! Have an absolutely blessed weekend. Huge hugs all round.'

Photo: 9 year old Nigerian girl writes a book on Terrorism

9 year old girl Splendour Joe Abisoye has written a book on terrorism which she titled 'Effects of Terrorism on Children'. Little Miss Splendour presented her book to the Director, Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade in Abuja yesterday July 2nd. In the book, Splendour shared her experience when she visited an IDP camp in the North and what some of the children there told her. Splendour was accompanied to the Army Headquarters by her parents Rev. and Mrs Joe King Abisoye. Receiving the book, Gen Olukolade applauded her for writing it

Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian teen in West Bank

Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank on Friday after he threw stones at their patrol, Palestinian medical and security sources said. Mohammad Kosba, 17, was killed by two bullets after launching the stones at an Israeli military vehicle close to the Qalandia checkpoint, south of Ramallah, the sources said.

Boko Haram reportedly slit the throat of 11 of its own members

Boko Haram members this morning reportedly slit the throat of 11 of its own members for fleeing one of their camps located near Miringa village in Biu local government area of Borno state. The fleeing members were on their way to surrender to government forces when the sect members pursued them, caught up with them in Miringa village, tried them there and slit their throat in the full glare of the villagers, according to Sahara Reporters

Former Miss Nigeria and Hank Anuku's sister, Rita Anuku, dies

Former Miss Nigeria and sister to famous actor Hank Anuku, Rita Anuku, has died. Rita, who won the Miss Nigeria pageant in 1986, died yesterday July 2nd in a hospital in Abuja after a battle with cancer. The mother of four was just 47 years old. May her soul rest in peace, amen.

"Even Satan Wasn't Gay" - President Mugabe Allegedly Says

Following the legalization of gay marriage across America by the Supreme Court last week, Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, who is known for his extreme anti-gay views has been making headlines. Earlier this week was a marriage proposal to president Obama and yesterday, he allegedly said what you see below during another interview; "Even satan wasn't Gay, he chose to approach naked Eve instead of naked Adam." - President, Mugabe on homo sexuality.