Mourinho: Chelsea players happy to travel to Israel

Jose Mourinho said all of his Chelsea players were happy to travel to Israel for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv, despite heightened security following the Paris terror attacks.

The Blues boss revealed there was no repeat of the 2001 trip to Israel, when England left-back Graeme Le Saux was one of six players who did not make the trip for a UEFA Cup game with Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit, William Gallas, Albert Ferrer and Eidur Gudjohnsen also did not travel on that occasion.

“We can just focus on playing,” Mourinho said.

“The best way is to focus on football and the happiness you have to play football, the responsibility you have to play football and (to) leave security questions to people who know more than we do.

“I didn’t have one single problem inside of the squad. I didn’t have a Graeme Le Saux. I had everybody without fears, just wanting to come.

“I had even a player who maybe tomorrow or after tomorrow, his wife is having a baby and he’s here to play, because he knows how important it is for us.”