Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca on the chance to go top of the league when they face Everton and insisting their focus is on the game and also on the impact their recent form has had on the squad
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
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00:00If you'd like to ask a question, please raise your hand. Who wants to get started? We'll start with Rob.
00:05Chelsea were at the top of the league on Saturday, a few hours before. Do you worry other players? Is there going to be a lot of pressure on them?
00:19No, no. No, I don't think so. I don't think so.
00:25First of all, because we try to focus on the game, not on the consequences of the game that can be a leader for a few hours.
00:34So this is the first reason. And then, since we started, I'm trying to convince the players not to...
00:44just to be focused on the game, game plan, how we can beat them, how we can do the right things.
00:50No more than that. So I don't think that they can have some pressure about the consequences of the win.
00:58Because, first of all, you have to win.
01:00Andy?
01:01Hi, Enzo. I know you touched on it briefly earlier, but just now that you've got no European football until March,
01:09it's about trying to keep... you've been kind of lucky, you've got such a strong squad of players, such ambitious players,
01:16trying to keep them happy between now and March when you won't have the European football,
01:20because obviously the FA Cup won't offer you as many opportunities for games.
01:25Is that a dilemma that you're going to have to face for the next three months, and how will you approach that?
01:31Personally, I'm not worried about the next three months, if the players are happy or not.
01:40The only thing I can say is that we have many games, and if they do the right things, if they work properly,
01:46for sure they're all going to have a chance to play games.
01:50Difficult, though, to fit everybody into that plan, because one of the hallmarks of you being here so far has been
01:56that it's looked very distinct. There's been some transition between the two squads, but it's looked quite separate.
02:04So this is something you're going to have to manage for the next 12 weeks or so without the European game?
02:10For instance, next week we have three games, so we continue to play many games.
02:15Then in January the FA Cup will start. I don't know. Now, Sunday is the game, then Wednesday,
02:25and game by game we're going to try to pick, to choose the best 11, or the ones that are not the best.
02:31The ones that we think are the right ones for that game, and then we'll see.
02:36I know it's only been 24 hours, but any updates on the Michaelem Woodrick situation?
02:42Have you been informed when you may get a bee sample or anything like that?
02:46No.
02:49Hi Enzo, so obviously you're coming up against Everton on Sunday, and obviously over the years
02:55Goodison Park doesn't seem to be a very happy hunting ground for Chelsea.
03:00Is this something that you read into?
03:02Very happy, you said?
03:04Not a good record.
03:06No, that means that Chelsea lost many games there?
03:10Yeah. Is this something you read into?
03:13No, it's something that I didn't know, to be honest. I just realised now.
03:17But the same thing they asked me after the Brentford game, that Brentford in the last three years,
03:21they always beat us. Hopefully we can go there and beat them.
03:25For sure it will be a tough game, but we're going to try to prepare the game in the best way we can.
03:32The target is always the same, prepare the game to win the game, and then we'll see.
03:38But I think Everton Stadium is not tough only for Chelsea.
03:46I've been there many times, it's tough for any club, but we're going to see.
03:53Just on winning and going top, is it also important that you put that little bit of pressure on Liverpool
04:01before they take that opportunity?
04:04I don't know if we win, they take that pressure. It's more a question for them.
04:10We're going to try to prepare the game, to win the game, like always.
04:16Then if we win and we put pressure on them, I don't know.
04:22Also because in that case they have two games less than us, so I don't think it's pressure for them.
04:30It's more a question for them, I don't know.
04:33Injury news, anyone due back?
04:37Joao is back, you see Joao.
04:39Romeo probably will struggle to play Sunday, but probably yes, we'll see.
04:45Tomorrow depends, and then the rest is all clear.
04:51Nani Madaweke came off at half-time today, was that planned or did you pick up an injury?
04:56No, it was planned for Nani.
04:59I just wanted to ask about Rhys James quickly.
05:02We haven't spoken about him in a while, how is he getting on?
05:05Is he semi-close to coming back at least?
05:07Rhys finally tomorrow will start with us for part of the session,
05:11so slowly, slowly he will be back.
05:13Doesn't mean that he's going to be with us on Sunday or next Sunday,
05:17it's just tomorrow for him the plan is part of the session to be with the team,
05:22and from there to try to build the right condition for him,
05:27and finally he can be back with us.
05:31You mentioned that you don't want unhappy players around in the camp after January,
05:37so you're going to need to speak to them.
05:39How will that actually all work out?
05:41Will you sit down and think, these are the guys who may not get used,
05:44I'm going to need to speak one-on-one with them?
05:46How will you decide who stays?
05:48No, there are players that unfortunately didn't play a lot with us in all the competition,
05:53like Chilwell, like Carney,
05:56probably they are the first that they want to leave,
05:59because they work every day, they train every day,
06:02because they want to play games,
06:04and if they don't play games, probably they are thinking to leave.
06:09But then we see, I think each player, it's a bit different situation,
06:14so we're going to see if some of them is coming and knock the door and say,
06:18I want to leave, or something like this,
06:20and it depends, we try to find a solution.
06:27Going back to Team News, just want to clarify for Farner and Valiant Shield as well,
06:33both they are still out, and both they're going to be still out for a long period.
06:44Everton have got new owners confirmed today,
06:48first of all, does that make the game trickier?
06:50There might be a bit of a bounce, and then from your own perspective,
06:54when you first try and make an impression on an owner,
06:57whether it's Todd at Leicester or Todd Bollier for David Vardy here,
07:02give me a bit of insight into what goes through your mind
07:05and how you try and build that instant bond with an owner
07:08that you're working with in the early stages.
07:12I don't know if the new owner for them can be something good or bad,
07:16for sure not bad, so probably can be something good.
07:20And then personally, when I met owners like, as you said,
07:24Topp at Leicester or the owners here, I just try to be myself,
07:29to be honest with them, to be clear, since the first meeting we had,
07:34and no more than that.
07:37Last couple, we'll go there and finish with Malik.
07:40You're second in the league, what have you brought to this club
07:43since you came here that's got you to second in the league?
07:47Is it the way the players are brought in, the way you work,
07:49is it your coaching? Tell me what the success is.
07:52No, for sure the players.
07:54You can coach them in the way you want,
07:56but if they are not open-minded or if they don't understand
08:03what I require, it's complicated.
08:06So first of all them, and then I think it's a bit of a mix of things.
08:11The club, the coaching staff, the players.
08:14It's important that we all share the same vision,
08:19that sometimes it's not easy, and probably this is the reason why.
08:24And we'll finish with Malik.
08:25Just to go back to Marc Gou, he hasn't played in the Premier League
08:29since the first day of the season.
08:30Would he be a player in January you might have to look at a loan for,
08:33or do you want to keep him here?
08:36I think with young players like Marc, like Josh, like Ty,
08:42for me the best thing for them is to be with us,
08:46because they can understand every day the way we want to play.
08:51They can grow, we can teach them how we want them to play.
08:55So I think it's better if they stay with us.
08:57But then it depends a little bit also on the desire of the players.
09:03In this case, Marc, his desire is to get more minutes and to play more.
09:08We sit with him and we decide together.
09:12Thank you everyone.