text: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will persist with struggling midfield trio Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic and Oscar as he refuses to shuffle his squad so late in the season. Mourinho had to answer questions about his three midfielders after the hard-fought 2-1 home win over Stoke. Asked whether Oscar is struggling, as he was substituted at half-time, Mourinho said: ‘No, I don’t think he had a bad performance, I just think he was not good enough, which is a huge difference. Oscar tries a flick that doesn't come off during a disappointing display against Stoke on Saturday . Jose Mourinho insists he will stick by his players despite the three midfielders' decline in form recently . Cesc Fabregas runs with the ball, but the assists have dried up for the Spanish international in recent weeks . ‘For me football is not just mathematics. When some people write that Fabregas drops his level because the number of assists are not the same, the number of assists are probably not the same because the player that he assists does not score.’ ‘Matic, he was suspended, and after the suspension he was injured celebrating in the final, so he went back and he was not in the best condition. ‘I always think stability is very important in a team, and it’s not in April that you are going to make important changes.’ Eden Hazard was Chelsea's best player, scoring a penalty before Charlie Adam stunned the hosts with an equaliser from his own half. Loic Remy sealed the points, after Hazard laid the chance on a plate for him, and kept the Blues in command at the top of the table. Oscar was withdrawn at half time but his manager insisted he was not struggling and will bounce back . Nemanja Matic holds off a tackle in midfield, but even the defensive midfielder has been short of his best .
target: Cesc Fabregas has not been at his best since turn of the year .
  Oscar was withdrawn at half-time in win over Stoke City on Saturday .
  Nemanja Matic 'not in the best condition' according to Jose Mourinho .
  But Chelsea manager determined to stick with his stars in title race .