Eden Hazard has been declared fit by Jose Mourinho ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium playmaker has not featured for the Blues since picking up a calf injury during the second leg of the quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain in west London earlier this month.
But Mourinho revealed that the newly-crowned PFA young player of the year is ready to feature against the La Liga side.
“He’s ready,” Mourinho said of Hazard. “It’s my option to start [him] or not to start him, but he’s ready.”
Captain John Terry has also recovered from an ankle injury and will play at Stamford Bridge. Asked if Terry would start on Wednesday, Mourinho said: “Of course.”
Mourinho also insisted that the team spirit amongst his Chelsea squad is as good as ever, but confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech is out injured with a shoulder problem, despite him taking part in training on Tuesday.
“Everybody is ready,” he continued. “He’s ready and that’s the message we wanted to give Everybody was on the pitch. Suspended players, players not eligible to play in the Champions League.
“It’s a very important match for our group. Everybody is together, everybody wants to help and everybody wants to play. Obviously his [Cech’s] condition doesn’t allow him to play.”