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Asmir Begovic will respect Jose Mourinho's decision on Chelsea starting job

Asmir Begovich at Wembley undergoing Star Wars Battlefront training, as the arch was turned the colours of the Jedi and the Sith
Image: Asmir Begovich at Wembley undergoing Star Wars Battlefront training, as the arch was turned the colours of the Jedi and the Sith

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic will respect whatever decision Jose Mourinho makes on the Chelsea starting job when Thibaut Courtois returns to full fitness.

Mourinho expects the Belgian to return "in the first 15 days of December" after suffering a knee injury against Everton in September.

In his absence Begovic has stepped into the starting role, and while collectively results have not been as hoped so far this season, Begovic's impressive form could mean Courtois' return poses a selection dilemma for Mourinho.

But it's not something the Bosnia 'keeper is contemplating at this stage, with an important game against Tottenham on the horizon.

"I don't think about it too much, I just take it game by game, my job is to contribute when I play and to be a good team-mate," Begovic told Sky Sports. "When Thibaut is back, the manager will have to make a decision and I will just concentrate on my job and try to play as many games [as possible].

"I leave all that down to the manager, I will respect the decision. I'll work hard no matter what the circumstances are. I'm a big part of the team, we've got so many games that you have just got to concentrate on your job and contribute."

Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea celebrates the opening goal scored by Pedro at West Brom, Premier League
Image: Thibaut Courtois has been injured since mid-September

Begovic also feels Chelsea are starting to turn the corner after back-to-back wins, and clean sheets, against Norwich and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Mourinho's side remain in the bottom half of the table, but Begovic sees signs of progress.

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"We've been working hard these last few weeks to put that start behind us and collectively get better, and the last few performances have gone a way to doing that," Begovic continued. "We're gaining confidence from those results and we're going to try and keep it going.

"Sometimes in sports and football, things just don't go your way for different reasons. We believe in what we're doing, we have a great coaching staff, manager and great players, and we're going to continue believing. Maybe things will turn around for us and we'll show our capabilities."

Jose Mourinho reacts
Image: Jose Mourinho was not happy with the state of the pitch in Israel, but Chelsea secured a 4-0 win

The Blues will look to make it three in a row when they visit White Hart Lane on Sunday, and Begovic admits he's been impressed by Mauricio Pochettino's team this season. Spurs sit fifth, four points off the top, and have not lost in the league since the opening day.

"They've had a pretty impressive start, they are a good, young, solid and energetic team who play very positively," said the goalkeeper. "I've been very impressed by them and it's a game we're looking forward to.

"You try and do your homework and prepare in a professional way for every opponent. Harry Kane is growing into a pretty fantastic player, he's done well over the last couple of years and he's someone we need to look out for and respect. We need to collectively keep him at bay, and that's what we'll try and do."

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Jose Mourinho refused to rule out the possibility of John Terry featuring for Chelsea against Tottneham on Sunday. Terry suffered an ankle injury in Tuesda

Meticulous preparation is a trait Begovic pinpoints when discussing his boss too, and the 'keeper believes Mourinho remains the world's best.

"I very much enjoy working for him," Begovic said. "His knowledge and attention to detail is second to none, and that is what makes him the world's best. You learn different things from his philosophy and I try to pick up as much as I can.

"He's the best I've worked with, and even in the short space of time I've worked with him, you can tell there's a bit of a difference between him and other managers."

Asmir Begovic is taking part in Star Wars Battlefront - Battle of Jakku: Live from London. To watch the live stream visit twitch.tv/eastarwars on Monday November 30 at 7pm. 

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