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The full transcript from Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca's press conference ahead of the Blues' Premier League showdown with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge this weekend
Enzo Maresca has just completed his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League fixture with Aston Villa at the weekend.
The Blues take on the red-hot Villa on Saturday evening with the chance of reducing the gap to Unai Emery's side to just four points. Maresca has just finished previewing the clash in the Chelsea head coach's final press conference before Christmas. Here is every word he had to say:
The worst 48 hours quote. Any developments, any updates?
No, no, no. Before the Newcastle game, I already spoke about that. So nothing to add.
No meeting with anyone from the sporting director's department or the ownership?
Again, before the Newcastle game, in the press conference, I said that we had a meeting, that the relationship is good and we all focus on the Aston Villa game, the next game, the next game. So nothing to add.
The players' Christmas party I see down here at the training ground. How was the spirit? All Christmassy?
Yeah, it was very good. Family time, players with their friends, with the kids. So it was a nice day, yeah.
Is Estevao Willian fit?
He's back. He's back, he's available for Saturday, him and also Liam Delap.
Liam's back and available? Is that a bit sooner than you thought?
No, we didn't know exactly for how long he needs to be out, but as I said, he's available for Saturday, he's available also Estevao, so very happy for both.
So what does Christmas look like for the players? Have they had time off this week or is it going to be a full week of training and now they're going to have some time off?
No, after Newcastle they are two days off. We trained yesterday, we train today, tomorrow off, and then Friday session and Saturday again.
Because I know you've worked for a while with Pep, and he's given his players a bit of time off this week, but he weighed them before they went away for their pre-Christmas break, and he's going to weigh them when they come back. Is that something you'll be doing?
It's Pep's choice, and he considers doing that. I think every manager probably thinks in a different way, but you have to respect different points of view.
Is it something you would do though, or do you trust the players to do the right thing on Christmas?
No, I think it's not about trust or not trust. I think also Pep trusts the players, but in just a different way.
You'll be in the stands obviously for the Villa game. Does that affect your preparation? How do you deal with that?
Yes, in almost 100 games. I've been suspended three times. One for celebration, and two times for yellow cards. So yeah, unfortunately I will be on the stand, but Willy [Caballero] is there, Danny [Walker] is there, the coaching staff is there.
Does it affect the way you prepare though, in terms of getting your messages to the players?
No, no.
Aston Villa are flying...
Yeah, they are doing fantastic. They are doing fantastic this season, last season, years ago with Unai [Emery]. They are doing a fantastic job. As you said, at this moment they have won 10 games in a row. Hopefully we can win the game on Saturday.
Would you swap Cole Palmer for Morgan Rogers?
No.
Why?
Because I love Cole, and Cole is my player.
Do you think Thomas Tuchel will be there? Should he be to look at Palmer?
Yeah, I think it's a good option for Thomas, but at the end it's Thomas' decision.
Was there an interest in Antoine Semenyo?
I'm focused on Aston Villa. I'm not focused on players that can arrive, players that can leave. The only focus for me at this moment is the Aston Villa game. I think that for sure it will be a tough game, because they are doing fantastic, and we need to be focused on that.
The wide player maybe, that area of the pitch, is something you would consider in January?
Again, I know that I need to repeat every press conference exactly the same, but before Newcastle I spoke about my relation with the club, and I said that it's good. I spoke about Estevao and Delap back, and now I need to repeat. Before Newcastle I said that I'm in love with the squad we have, and I don't think we need to do something. But again, the next one I will answer the same question again.
How do you stop Villa? Where are the main threats, would you say, in that team?
We need to do our best, because they are a very good team, well organised on the ball and off the ball. It's very clear what they do, the way they want to play. They are, in this moment, also full of confidence. That is very important in a football team. But again, we're going to try to do our best, try to win, and continue to grow.
If someone had told you at the start of this season that this is where Chelsea would be at Christmas, would you have said, OK, that sounds good?
Yeah, we are in four competitions. We are there, we are in the Premier League fighting, we are in the semi-finals, Carabao Cup, in the Champions League, we are there. FA Cup, we're going to start in January, so I think we are in a very good place in this moment.
Coming to the end of the year, what's top on your wish list for your team in 2026?
Continue to grow, that is the most important thing. Continue to improve. Then also in terms of injury, I think it's normal when you have injuries in football, because when you play every two, three days, it's normal, the amount of games, the minutes. But for sure, if they can be healthy, all of them, it's the best thing. But, again, we're going to try to find a solution, game after game.
Is Cole Palmer ready for 90 minutes?
I think he's ready for 90 minutes, yeah. The progression for a player is 45, one hour, 70. He already played one hour against, I think, Everton. He played more than 70 against Newcastle. I think the progression is there.
Is a title challenge too early for Chelsea?
Depends where we are in March.
But right now, give me an idea of where you think...
Right now we are competing, we are good, but now January, February, many games, so we need to arrive to March, and then we set the target.
Is it too simplistic for us to think this is Cole Palmer vs Morgan Rogers?
No, they are two fantastic players. For sure they are going to be important during the game. But I think both players, they need the other 10 around them to support them and to help them to do the right things. For sure it's about Morgan, it's about Cole, but it's about the team.
Can Estevao become one of the best in the world?
I think he's already one of the best young players in the world, but he needs to continue to improve, he needs to work hard. But for sure if he does that, he can be one of the top players in the future.
Is Reece James now playing like the player and captain you want?
Absolutely, yes.
What is he doing now that is different?
I think he's growing in terms of leadership, he's growing also in terms of players, because he's playing more minutes, more minutes, more minutes. And this is the reason why we are all happy, first of all, because he can be fit, he can be healthy. And then because we know that he can behave also as a leader.
Given his history here and the amount of time he's been here, and the influence he's having, and how much turnover there's been over the last few years, is he the most important player you think you've got in your squad at the moment?
He's one of the main players for different reasons. He's an academy player, he's from the house, he's the captain. When he's fit, he's one of the best players we have, no doubt. So for sure, for me personally, he's a main player.
What's an Enzo Maresca Christmas Day like? What's the meal? Do you cook?
My mum is here, and when my mum is here, no-one is allowed to go in the kitchen. She's in charge of the kitchen. It's just family time with the kids, and we're going to be there.
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