Jose's five-point preview - Norwich

Here’s our regular five-point preview with Jose Mourinho - this time around focussing on our FA Cup fifth round tie against Norwich City at home this evening (4 March, 7.45pm).

1 - This week

Our usual first port of call - how were preparations for this tie coming off the back of a defeat against Wolves on Sunday?

Jose: “It’s always easier to play after a victory. It’s always easier to recover from fatigue when you are happy. Of course, we are not happy, but the motivation to play a game that can put us in the draw for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup is big enough motivation for the troops to be ready. We are not happy, but the camp is positive and motivated and we have to look forward.”

2 - Hugo latest

Hugo Lloris missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury – Jose gave an update on the skipper in his press conference on Tuesday...

Jose: “Yesterday (Monday), I was not sure that he couldn't play. He can't. I'm going to wait for good news for Saturday (Burnley away, 5.30pm), I hope he can. It's not the kind of injury where we know he's not ready to play for three, four or five weeks. It's not a situation like that. He's not playing tomorrow (Wednesday) but I cannot tell you he's not playing Saturday, because maybe he can.”

3 - Norwich

Jose spoke well of Daniel Farke’s team ahead of both our recent matches in the Premier League (2-2 at Carrow Road, 28 December; 2-1 at home on 22 January) and isn’t changing his tune ahead of this FA Cup tie...

Jose: “We’ve played them twice, a draw and a very narrow victory. We know - and I said in the press conference after the last game - they don’t belong in the position in the table (Norwich are currently bottom). They just beat Leicester (on Friday), I think Liverpool were lucky to beat them a couple of weeks ago (1-0 at Carrow Road, 15 February). It was so difficult for us to win against them. It will be a difficult match, a special match. We want to be in the draw. We want to be in the quarter-finals.”

4 - The 'beautiful' FA Cup

We’re expecting another packed house and Norwich have taken their full allocation (away teams are allowed more fans in the FA Cup) – so 9,000 Canaries are expected in N17 later!

Jose: “If we went away to Norwich, we would take every ticket possible for our fans as well. 9,000 away supporters, midweek. That shows immediately what the game means. It’s amazing, beautiful. That's the beauty of the FA Cup. It’s a big game and I repeat what I said after we played (Norwich) here. That's not a team to be where they are. They are fighting to stay in the division, I like their team and I think it's going to be a very difficult match.”

5 - Gedson

Jose was asked in the press conference for his thoughts on how Gedson had settled in after his arrival from Benfica in January...

Jose: “He is a kid, I think he is happy. He is adapting well to a special life. He lives again with his parents and his sister, it is a very good situation for him, he is happy. He works hard as a young kid has to do. He deserves his opportunities, he has already started at Southampton and the Champions League match. He is playing, he is playing in different positions, he gives us what we always thought he could give us - options. As a kid, you always expect that next season will be better. Until the end of the season there will be more opportunities to play football and grow up. But a good kid.”