Jose Mourinho insisted he would never interfere in medical decisions after Thibaut Courtois suffered a head injury in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Arsenal.
The Belgium goalkeeper initially played on following his collision with Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez before being replaced by Petr Cech and leaving the stadium for precautionary tests at hospital.
The decision left the Premier League regulations on head injuries facing further scrutiny amid concerns clubs have too much say in whether a player can continue or not.
“Doctor Biosca (Chelsea’s medical director Paco Biosca) says there’s nothing to be too much worried about,” said Mourinho, after confirming Courtois had gone for tests. “On the bench I don’t communicate with the doctors. I just get decisions. ‘Can he stay (on)?’ ‘Yes’; ‘He has to leave’. ‘Okay’.
“I have no time and no medical qualities to discuss that.
“I was just worried for the kid (Courtois), not worried about the game and the performance.”
Cech began the season as second choice after a decade in the first XI and made his 480th appearance for Chelsea, just his second as a substitute. The 32-year-old plays wearing a rugby scrum cap after fracturing his skull against Reading in October 2006 in an incident which heightened medical procedures at football stadia.
Mourinho believes Chelsea acted properly in relation to Courtois and said the Belgian’s injury is not too serious.
Mourinho added: “I just want them to give me a decision and they gave me a decision. For me that’s correct.
“The club doctor, or the club medical department has to take control and the responsibility.
“The injury is nothing special. Nothing to be too much worried about.”
