Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed he would finally have an almost full squad available for their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest and spoke on their European ambitions and the challenge of facing a relegation threatened side
Cobham, London, UK
Cobham, London, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Can I show you the afternoon?
00:07Thanks for having this, it makes a difference.
00:12OK, good morning. Welcome to today's press conference.
00:15We'll start with the broadcast section and Gary from Sky Sports News. Gary.
00:19OK. Good morning.
00:21Good morning, Harry.
00:22How are you?
00:23Very good, thank you.
00:24Any injury updates, please?
00:27We need to assess today some players that maybe can be involved tomorrow in the game.
00:34But yes, happy because I think it's true that this is the last week,
00:43we are going to be in the last week of the season,
00:46and nearly all the players will fit to be available.
00:51Good point, but good then to see the future, you know, being more optimistic.
01:00Yeah, I mean, probably around five or six still out,
01:04but all season it's been double figures, 10, 11, 12. How ironic.
01:08Yes, I'm 14, 14 again.
01:10That was amazing.
01:11How ironic is that? How disappointing is that?
01:14So disappointed because I think when you arrive to a new club,
01:20a new project, always you want to work with all the whole squad
01:24and to have all fit and to create a very good dynamic to compete in them
01:29and to increase the level and improve every single day.
01:32That wasn't possible this season, but we need to assess why,
01:36we need to do better, you know, we need to improve in all the areas.
01:41Like in football, you cannot stop thinking in a different way.
01:48And I think, yes, it's a good challenge for the next season,
01:51you know, to start the season and have, you know,
01:55increase the percentage of ability, the ability of the player.
01:59One of the players who may be available for Saturday Night Football
02:03is Rhys James.
02:04Yes, we need today to see, but maybe he can be available to be on the squad.
02:09Yes.
02:10And obviously a good week for Cole Palmer,
02:12he swept the board at your own club awards
02:15and is on the shortlist for the Premier League Player
02:18and Young Player of the Year awarded.
02:21Do you think he should win it?
02:24We'll see, we'll see.
02:26I think what he achieved is massive.
02:29For me, already he's a winner, even if he then will not take the trophy.
02:36But I think for me he's a winner because I think the level that he reached
02:40is amazing for us, it's amazing for the club, for the team-mate and for himself.
02:45And now we'll see, we'll see what happens,
02:48but I think the season that he's doing is fantastic.
02:54Spring has sprung, the weather's really nice,
02:57your injury list is down, it's a bit too late to really have much effect this season.
03:03Yes, maybe the players want to go on holidays and want to stay here working.
03:08Maybe that's the reason.
03:10For sure someone's singing in these waves, sure, sure.
03:14Do you sense a spring in the step out there, given the recent results as well?
03:18Do you sense a good vibe, a good atmosphere?
03:21Yes, the atmosphere is good, always.
03:24During the whole season there was a good atmosphere on the training ground.
03:30I cannot say that it was in another way, I need to be fair.
03:35It's true that some good results in the last few weeks I think increased our belief
03:43and of course when you win games it's always different.
03:49And the performance is good also.
03:52And with the circus and like 12, 14 players out,
03:55it always gives more value to the performance and to the victories.
04:03Yes, I think the team is ready to face the last three games.
04:09I think it's important for us.
04:11The important objective is to try to be in Europe.
04:15And of course we are focused on the next game,
04:18that is tomorrow's Nottingham Forest, the first step in the last week.
04:22You mentioned Europe there, that is a big aim, a big priority.
04:26You don't think that next season, if it's one of the lesser European competitions,
04:30you'd be better off carrying on with a project out of Europe next season?
04:34Always. Achieving something like this is important for any single club.
04:38After all the circumstances and the reality that we were living this season,
04:42I think it's an objective that is there.
04:46It's true that it's going to be hard to get,
04:49but the most important now is to sing and to repeat our performance the last few weeks,
04:54again Nottingham Forest, and not to sing too much.
04:57It's only to repeat and replicate the same way to play,
05:01the approach of the game, being focused.
05:04And of course, we know very well that in case we win games,
05:09the last three games, we will have the possibility to move to a place
05:16that can allow us to play in Europe next season.
05:19Those last two, two and a half performances you refer to,
05:24Who said this? Who said this, Mauricio?
05:27Who said it was beautiful football? Fluid football?
05:30Two and a half.
05:31Proof that the project is coming together?
05:36Yes, that is how damaged the result is.
05:41We are thinking only of the result, of course, the second half of Aston Villa,
05:45but I think in the whole season, the performances sometimes were better
05:50than the performance in the second half of the Tottenham game or the Aston Villa.
05:56But we were not clinical enough.
05:58We were not in the moment that we are now living with the confidence
06:04and maybe not the experience to deal with situations.
06:08That is why we didn't win games in the first ten games.
06:11I think we deserved much, much more.
06:14Maybe we played very good football, but we didn't win.
06:18And that is, you know, football is about wrestling, how to change the feelings and the view.
06:26After, I think, the victory on Tottenham, the 1-4,
06:31I think if you see the performance of the team,
06:34about not only performances, not about wrestling,
06:36I think we are in the top five, you know,
06:38or the team that get more points or got more points.
06:44No more points, but we are in the top five.
06:46We are in the top five if we start to count after the...
06:49We are, you know, I think the first ten games,
06:53we were punished for the lack of capacity to score goals, you know,
06:58and because we didn't concede too much, but we didn't score.
07:03If we analyse the whole performance, I think the team knows very well
07:07how we need to play, the philosophy and the understanding about the game
07:10that we want to play is easy to see and recognise the style.
07:15Only thing that when you win games, you know,
07:19or you are in a different circumstance that is emotional
07:25and when the emotions are good, you know,
07:27you can see the things in a different way.
07:29Today is a sunny day, you know, it's good.
07:34And then you have some good news, it all looks more, you know, better.
07:40But our responsibility is to see what happened in the past
07:45and I think explaining so quick, people that understand football
07:49for sure understand that the situation wasn't the ideal situation.
07:56But now we are happy because to finish strong,
07:59that is the most important thing because last season,
08:02if you remember, it was difficult to have good results on Stamford Bridge
08:07and now it's always contagious for the next season.
08:10If we finish strong, the season, you know, being very good on Stamford Bridge
08:15and the record is fantastic in the last eight, nine games,
08:18ten games, I don't know.
08:20But I think that always you can project, you know,
08:24this is the next season to keep the same, you know, energy and performance.
08:29Do you want to come back? I know I'm supposed to finish.
08:30Do you want to come back because those quotes,
08:32beautiful football, fluid football, project coming together,
08:36they were Todd's quotes this week.
08:38Ah, yes.
08:39That must be music to your ears.
08:41Sorry?
08:42That must be music to your ears. It must be nice to hear.
08:45No, I think he described the reality, no?
08:49And yes, I think always Todd was very, very good with us.
08:59Even when it was a tough moment,
09:01always was very positive through the message and through the, you know,
09:05in a private way.
09:06But being public now and owner, if the owner is happy,
09:16I think it's much better.
09:17We work for the club, for the fans, for the players, but for the owners also.
09:21Thank you.
09:22Soraya, PLP.
09:23Good morning.
09:24Good morning.
09:25We've seen Cucarella's performances recently blossom.
09:28Going forward,
09:29are you looking long-term to set the team up to be able to invert from the
09:32full-backs on the left side?
09:34I know you're laughing again, my tactics.
09:36No, but I like, I like, I like it.
09:38So like we have Cucarella, we have Chilli, we have Ruiz, we have Gusto.
09:42Are they able to play that role that he's playing right now?
09:45I think it's always the momentum of the team,
09:51the characteristics of the player.
09:54You know, I think with inverted full-backs or not.
09:58I've seen playing with a full-back in a different position,
10:02higher in the pocket, in the halfway, half space or different, you know.
10:06I think that what we find is a group of players, you know,
10:11that feel really well.
10:14And I think the team is feeling well.
10:16And I think it's not about the names that are going to be on the pitch.
10:19I think when you start to evolve and step up and start to realise,
10:25and start to work in the priorities,
10:28I think every single after-proposed possibility to try to do in the pitch,
10:39in a different tactical, you know, work,
10:41I think always is a thing that is going to be positive.
10:45I think what we saw that this type of situation can help in different ways
10:51because we meet some players, you know, in that position
10:54or to cope with the lack of full-back in the right side
10:59because Malo and Riz, and then to compensate.
11:01That is always about our creativity, like coaching staff,
11:05like all coaching staff, you know,
11:07to try to design the best strategies for the team to achieve what we want.
11:12It's true that being fair,
11:15all this type of situation that you want to apply on the pitch,
11:18you need the right attitude, the good balance,
11:21the profile of the player, the characteristics.
11:23Scenes like this, when all is there,
11:26after you can try everything and for sure it's going to work.
11:30Without this, without right attitude, right approach, good legs,
11:35you know, to have legs, physicality, technically, profile, you know,
11:39it's always difficult to apply tactics and then wait for that to work well.
11:45You also spoke about having patience for the team to actually be ready
11:49and disciplined to implement the tactics that you guys have.
11:53We've seen development with Noni, Carceda, they've made strides.
11:56As we come to the end of the season, I wanted to know, in your opinion,
11:59what do you think has been the biggest development,
12:01individually or overall, in the squad on or off the pitch?
12:04It's too many things.
12:05I think first realise that you are in Chelsea
12:07and the demand of Chelsea is completely different than another club.
12:10In general, players that arrive are potential, amazing players.
12:16Potential means that we're talking in the future, not in the past or in the present.
12:22And also to adapt, you know, to the competition,
12:26for many foreign players that arrive from outside also.
12:31And then it's to deal, you know, that your reality changes when you arrive here,
12:39for all the reasons that we already know.
12:41And then to build a team, to build a team that can behave like a team.
12:46It's not to put 10 people in this room and expect that they are all friends.
12:56I think with the time, with the patience, start to link, to bond
13:00and to create this complicity that is so important after to translate to the pitch.
13:06And you're known for your great man-management.
13:09And this season, a lot of the injured players have come out and said
13:12you've been so supportive, so helpful, a great leader.
13:14How have you found managing so many players that aren't on the pitch, aren't playing football?
13:20I think that you have or you don't have.
13:22I think it's about the quality, how you are like a person,
13:26your characteristic and your personality.
13:28I think we always, we are coaching staff that are very supportive
13:33and try to understand.
13:35And at the same time, we are tough people because we always try to help
13:43and to push them to achieve their best level.
13:48And not always is a nice show, you know, together.
13:54But yes, I think through our experience and our, of course, quality,
14:03like a coaching staff, we try, you know, to design for every single player
14:07because every single player is different and deal or suffer in a different way
14:13When you are injured, it's trying to personalise the way to talk,
14:18the way to approach, the way to communicate, the way to, you know,
14:22to help with different strategies.
14:25Thank you.
14:26You're welcome.
14:27Alex, BBC.
14:28Hi, Mauricio.
14:29Hi, hello.
14:30Rhys James coming back is obviously a big boost for you
14:32to have your captain back around the squad.
14:34But what can you expect from him in the last three games?
14:36Is it important not to put too much pressure on him?
14:39No, the most important thing is that he's going to be there with us
14:41and always to have your captain is a massive boost for any, you know, team.
14:47And then because we have an amazing relationship
14:50and of course he's an amazing player.
14:53I know it's not easy always when you come from a long-term, you know,
14:59long-time injury.
15:01The most important is that he can be available and can be part of the squad.
15:06And then if he can play five, 10, 15, 20 or half an hour,
15:10I think it's going to be amazing.
15:12But of course, unlucky is only the last week and we have three games, you know.
15:19But it's important.
15:21It's important to finish with good feelings
15:23and for him it's going to be amazing to be involved.
15:26And just to follow up on the questions about Todd's comments,
15:29do you know when you'll sit down with him at the end of the season yet?
15:32Sorry?
15:33Do you know when you will sit down with the owners and Todd at the end of the season?
15:37The way that we work is to sit with the sporting director.
15:40We already are working, you know, planning the pre-season,
15:48the pre-season tour, the start of the pre-season here.
15:51I think we are working to try to, you know, to work for the…
15:56We had some meetings and yes, we are working like, you know,
16:01with the responsibility to organise all the season for the next season,
16:09to hold the plan and of course working in the future.
16:14Thank you.
16:15You're welcome.
16:16We've got time for one more.
16:17Simon Athletic.
16:18Richo, so given what Todd said,
16:21given what you're saying about planning for next season…
16:25But this we were planning also, eh?
16:27We were very professional and then, you know,
16:30you remember, the rest will after.
16:32Let's read that we work in Southampton.
16:38It was a technical director.
16:40He said to me, be professional until the end.
16:43Be professional.
16:44And always it's in my mind, no?
16:46Be professional.
16:47You need to work like you are going to be here for a long time.
16:51You've almost headed me up at the pass then,
16:54because I was going to ask,
16:56is this a sign that we can read into next season
17:00that you'll still be here?
17:02Look, it's not important.
17:04The most important thing is to keep going working
17:11if we are all happy.
17:13Not only the owners happy with us or the sporting director with us
17:16or us with all the organisation that the club is building here,
17:20because of them we are all under assessment, you know?
17:23If we are happy, perfect.
17:25But it's not only if the owners are happy or the sporting director are happy.
17:29If we are happy, you need to ask also,
17:31because maybe we said, look, maybe we are not happy
17:35and then we assess the situation
17:37and maybe we are not happy and we need to split.
17:39You know, but it's not going to be the first time
17:41that the coaching staff decide on the end of the season
17:43not to keep going.
17:45But understand that always it's in the way,
17:48the opposite way, you know?
17:51The owners or the sporting director.
17:53It's not just up to Chelsea, it's also your decision
17:56about whether you continue.
17:58It's what you're saying.
18:00No, I say they can say tomorrow,
18:03until here we arrive,
18:05or maybe tomorrow I can say, look, I want to leave.
18:08You know, it's two parts that they can take a decision.
18:11It's not only...
18:13No, because Chelsea is not happy or the owners are not happy
18:15or the sporting director.
18:16Maybe we are not happy
18:18because we arrive here for some show to do,
18:21but in the end it's not happening what we expect.
18:25And maybe we are not happy.
18:28I don't say that I am not happy,
18:30but, you know, always it's like in one side.
18:34In another side, maybe say, OK, maybe until here.
18:40And we split.
18:41It's not a problem.
18:42It's not going to be the end of the world.
18:44OK, thank you very much.
18:45Cameras off, please.
18:46That's end of broadcast.