IF YOU THOUGHT Chelsea’s capture of the relatively unknown Papy Djilobodji from Nantes on deadline day was surprising, you’re not the only one.
Jose Mourinho has admitted he had nothing to do with the deal.
The 26-year-old Senegalese international, who had spent five years with the French club, was signed by the Londoners after they failed to land John Stones from Everton, .
But Djilobodji hasn’t been included in Chelsea’s Champions League squad and speaking at his Friday press conference, Mourinho admitted to his lack of involvement in the transfer.
It was not my choice. It was the choice of somebody I trust completely. I don’t know every player. My job doesn’t allow me to travel, doesn’t allow me to spend hours and hours watching players.
“And in some moments of the market, under certain circumstances are moments where you have to trust or not the people that you work with. In my case I trust, because the same person that told me that Djilobodji can be a good squad player for us, was the same person who told me (about Kurt) Zouma.”
Like Zouma, Djilobodji can play in central defence or push higher into midfield and given Chelsea’s defensive concerns, he may get some first-team opportunities.
Mourinho’s side are in a rather unique position. In terms of the worst starts made by a Premier League champion, only Blackburn in 1995 had fewer points at this stage of the season than Chelsea’s current tally of four.
They lie in 13th with four points from four games and face an Everton side that have won four of the last six head-to-heads at Goodison Park.
