Pochettino excited by Chelsea's trip to Manchester Utd but rules out Nkunku and Lavia (Full Presser)
Maurciio Pochettino excited by Chelsea's trip to Manchester Utd but confirmed both Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia wouldn't be fit to play
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00:00 Have you seen the injury update?
00:07 No, tomorrow no.
00:09 Still too soon?
00:11 Well, hope soon yes, but still he's not involved for tomorrow.
00:16 Is that slower than you thought?
00:20 No, I think it's like we always tell you, it's about assessing day by day the player's injury.
00:30 Sometimes we become excited when we see on the pitch and we want to have the player as soon as possible.
00:40 But I think we need to be careful and of course when we're ready he's going to be with the squad.
00:50 And what about Romeo?
00:52 Romeo is doing well also but still, like Christoph, he's not involved. He's not going to be involved for tomorrow.
00:59 I see two new names added to the list, Mane Mademac and Leslie Ovechukwu.
01:07 Yes, Leslie felt something last week, it's a minor injury, like noni after a post-match Sunday against Brighton.
01:18 I think also some minor problems. I hope that soon he will be again available for training and available for the team.
01:29 It's a cliché question, Richard, but is now a good time to play Manchester United?
01:36 No, I think we cannot change the time. I think it's always good to play in Old Trafford because it's an amazing place.
01:45 Amazing stadium, fans, team, club. It's a great opportunity always to play there.
01:55 But I think we are all in similar level, with different situations. I don't say that it's a good moment to go there.
02:06 The most important is to be ready to compete because we're going to face a team that is going to be tough because for sure they want to win.
02:15 We are a team that wants to keep our momentum, to build from Brighton and to be high on the table.
02:25 For us it's important. If we want to be in a different position, it's a game that we need to go there and try to win.
02:31 You spoke about the momentum. Obviously off the pitch at Chelsea now, things seem to be settled nicely.
02:38 Not the case it seems though at Manchester United. There's a lot of noise surrounding the club about what's going on behind the scenes.
02:46 No, I don't know. I am focused in my club. I think we need to do much better and we need to do the thing better.
02:55 I think that is a process that only I can explain but never compare with another club.
03:02 I think it's little by little, step by step, we are building something that we believe is going to be amazing for the future of the club.
03:14 That is a period of time that always is about to settle things and to earn the thing that we want.
03:23 But never to compare with another club because I think it's not fair.
03:27 There's reports, and I asked you to comment on them, of a split in the dressing room.
03:33 Up to half the players not liking Eric Ten Haag. Do you feel sorry for him because you've managed the egos of the biggest names in football?
03:43 Vape, Neymar, Messi. Could you give me some advice about how to handle that?
03:49 No, I think I am only a coach that tries to do my best with my coaching staff.
04:00 We are not capable to give advice to my colleagues.
04:07 I think they have experience and of course I don't want to talk about what is going on there or in another place because it's not my duty.
04:16 I need to be focused because we have many things to deal with here.
04:21 I am very respectful and of course I don't want to talk about what happened in another club.
04:29 You've got a better project here anyway haven't you because you've got so many young players who you can mould into your way of doing things.
04:36 Are you glad you were linked with the United job on several occasions? Are you glad now that you didn't take it?
04:41 Again, I don't want to talk about the other clubs.
04:48 You try to make me talk too much and I made a mistake but I don't want to make a mistake.
04:56 Look, we need to be respectful with another club.
05:01 I am not the person to talk about what is going on in different clubs.
05:06 If you ask me if I am happy here, yes I am happy here in this project.
05:13 Of course, different to another and of course we are dealing with many situations that we need to improve also.
05:20 Maybe if someone sees the project from outside to Chelsea, maybe some people believe that we need advice or opinion from outside.
05:32 But I am so respectful with another club and of course we are building something here, we are working really hard and we are 200% focused to try to evolve and develop the project that we want altogether.
05:46 And of course that is my focus, to try to deliver the show for this football club.
05:52 Of course, thank you.
05:53 You're welcome.
05:54 Hi Mauricio, we often struggle to know what to expect from Chelsea going into a game this season.
06:03 Do you feel that you are getting closer to knowing what to expect from your players before the match starts?
06:10 Sorry, you can repeat the question.
06:13 So, Chelsea are quite inconsistent and we don't really know what to expect from the players on the pitch before the game starts?
06:22 That is how you feel, no? It's your opinion.
06:26 Do you feel similar? Do you feel like your players don't always live up to your expectations?
06:32 No, only once.
06:33 This season is only one game that was Newcastle, we were all disappointed because I think we expect different performance from the team.
06:49 And now in four or five months that we are working together, it's only once.
06:55 We were consistent in our performance and then we didn't get the result maybe that we deserve.
07:03 That is true.
07:04 But of course, disappointed with Newcastle again because I think we deserve to lose three points.
07:09 That is only once that we were disappointed with the performance.
07:14 But in the end, always expectation.
07:17 I think they cover the expectation.
07:19 It's only that the result, you cannot judge the performance or you cannot judge the expectation because of the result.
07:26 How much has this Brighton game strengthened your thoughts about this team's character, their ability to fight the game through till the end?
07:38 Yes, of course, it was good for us.
07:40 I think when you analyse the game, I think you feel proud.
07:43 Because I think in the way that we started the first half and we played, I think again a very good team like Brighton.
07:52 And then after our situation and trying to change our feelings after Newcastle, it was a really tough game for us.
08:01 Not only because we were facing a very good team like Brighton, if not because it was playing against us and trying to show a different face.
08:10 I think I was tired after the game.
08:17 In the press conference I think I didn't understand a little bit the question.
08:21 I said sorry and apologised because I was tired after all the interviews.
08:25 But because I think the players deserve more credit because to play more than 60 minutes with one less and a team that is really good.
08:35 And we didn't concede too much and then score with one player less, I think it was great for our players and for the team to really believe.
08:45 And that is areas that we need to build and to feel very comfortable.
08:50 And one was to have the possibility to fight all together and show character and togetherness.
08:57 And that is so important.
08:59 Like I said before to talk about tactics, before to talk about philosophy or methodology, it is about to be all together and to decide.
09:07 And to want to belong to the club, to belong to this philosophy, this club, this group of players fighting all together.
09:15 And if we are capable to feel like this, I think after we can evolve and we can develop any way to play.
09:23 And finally from me, what do you think is Manchester United's biggest threat on the pitch?
09:29 I think they are very good players. I've seen the pace of their offensive players.
09:36 We cannot allow them to transit. We need to be careful in the way that we are going to build up and how we are going to finish and when to lose the ball.
09:46 We need to be clever in the way that we are going to try to not allow them to transit.
09:55 Because when they recover the ball they have pressing front like Rashford, Arnaut, different players that can transit really fast.
10:06 And yes, and then it is trying to dominate and to put pressure and to play in the opposite half.
10:12 I think that is going to be the challenge for us.
10:14 Thank you.
10:16 Ruben, Thea.
10:17 Hi, Mourinho sir. Chelsea still have a massive squad. How much of a problem has that been for you and are you looking to reduce those numbers?
10:24 No, not massive. We have a good squad. I think we are happy with the squad.
10:32 Only that the problem is that we have too many, from the beginning of the season we deal with too many injuries, unexpected.
10:40 Yes, that is a problem but if you see tomorrow the squad is going to be too many young guys who will be involved from the academy.
10:51 You played really well against some of the big teams this year. Why is that? Why did Chelsea turn up in these games?
10:56 I know I explained if you follow my press conference I think I already explained that it is about to be more consistent, it is about to be more mature like a team and of course that only is going to come with time.
11:14 What do you think of Eric Ten Hag as a manager? What does he bring to the table?
11:18 Sorry?
11:19 What do you think of Eric Ten Hag as a manager?
11:25 He is a fantastic coach. I remember that we faced, when I was in Tottenham, the semi-final of the Champions League against Ajax.
11:34 I was talking about him and I said for me he is a fantastic coach, a great manager.
11:44 It is good to see him after four years because I think we didn't play after the semi-final in Ajax.
11:56 We have the pleasure again to go with him because we were in Paris and it was never a coincidence to play in the Champions League and now it is a possibility to see him again.
12:07 Good luck.
12:08 You are welcome.
12:09 Last question in this section, Liam.
12:11 You have had a very consistent midfield in the last few weeks. Do you need to find a different balance in midfield now with Gallagher suspended and Oguchuk injured?
12:25 No, I think it is not going to change too much. If you see the squad available for tomorrow, it is not difficult to see what is going to be my decision, my choice.
12:41 I think there are not too many options but of course I am happy. I am sure that we are going to do a good game.
12:49 Thank you. Cameras off please.
12:51 Thanks, Richard.
12:52 You are welcome.
12:53 That's the end of TV.