Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted they struggle without Cole Palmer available as they prepare to face Aston Villa but hit back at claims they lack character without him
Cobham, London, UK
Cobham, London, UK
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00:00 You said on Tuesday night just how much you struggle without Kool.
00:04 This has obviously been a very expensively assembled squad and I appreciate there's been a lot of injuries as well.
00:10 But how much of a concern is it that you're so reliant on one player, a 21-year-old player?
00:16 No, we can talk and we can talk and we can talk, but in the end it's the reality.
00:21 I think Kool is a very good player for us and he's a key player for us
00:26 and he's showing that we struggle a little bit without him.
00:31 That is the reality that we can hide.
00:33 I think one of the big criticisms on Tuesday night as well was the character or the lack of character.
00:40 This side, when there is a setback, when they concede the first goal, they kind of fall apart.
00:46 No, that is not true. That is not true.
00:48 That is not true because we conceded the first goal, of course, after four minutes.
00:53 And then the team was there. We created some chances and, yes, the team was on the game.
01:03 And then we started the second half and after six, seven minutes we conceded the second goal.
01:10 And, yes, after we can talk, then maybe in the second half we show lack of, maybe, the capacity to believe that it was possible.
01:20 Yes, but not, I think, the first 45 minutes.
01:26 I think everyone believed and, you know, everyone that saw the game, the team was there,
01:34 was fighting, trying to draw the game, to score and it wasn't the game.
01:39 So that lack of belief, is that something you can fix?
01:42 Yes, lack of belief was with all the circumstances that sometimes happen, you know.
01:46 After the disappointment against Manchester City and no time to recover,
01:53 playing against a team that is playing for the Premier League and full of confidence.
02:00 And with our circumstances, I think all was negative for the team and that is why we suffered.
02:07 We were capable one week before to beat Everton 6-0, playing a fantastic game.
02:14 We saw the last few days that, or yesterday, before yesterday, Everton beat Liverpool 2-0.
02:23 And we were capable to play a fantastic game against Manchester City
02:27 and then we didn't keep the consistency that you need, you know, to be in the game.
02:34 And that happened in a situation that, with all the circumstances we are living,
02:39 maybe I repeat too much, but that is the truth and the reality.
02:44 And yes, in the second half, after to concede the third goal,
02:49 I think it was difficult to manage the situation on the pitch.