Blues ‘Kante’ give up, will push on against United

LONDON: Chelsea’s players will put absolutely everything on the line to beat Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash.

Chelsea have made a stuttering start to their title defence and are nine points adrift of Manchester City and four behind second-placed United.

They lost 3-0 at AS Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday and Courtois said his teammates were determined to bounce back from the setback.

“We will try to get the three points and will give our lives for it on Sunday,” Courtois told British media. “We have to react on Sunday as the Roma defeat was a bad image of ourselves ... we must win games like these (United) to remain at the top and close to the other ones (teams).”

Antonio Conte’s side have kept only four clean sheets in the Premier League so far this season and Courtois knows they have to sort out their defensive problems for United’s visit. “We have to find that balance again and rediscover that mentality of not conceding goals and keeping clean sheets,” said the Belgian international.

N’Golo Kante, who has missed Chelsea’s last five matches with a hamstring injury, trained with the squad before the Roma clash and could return against United but Courtois said the midfielder would not be pushed into action. – Reuters KICKING ON: Richard Ofori of Maritzburg United remains pragmatic, despite the recent failures of Ghana and the Team of Choice – the Black Stars failing to qualify for Russia 2018 and the cup failures of his club, respectively.