Every word Enzo Maresca said on Lavia injury, Caicedo problem, Neto latest, Chelsea vs Wolves

The full transcript from Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as the Italian looks ahead to the Blues' Premier League meeting with Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Saturday

Enzo Maresca has just completed his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Wolves on Saturday evening.

The Blues welcome the bottom-of-the-table Wanderers to Stamford Bridge this weekend with the onus on the home side to go out there and put on a show. Maresca has just previewed his side's crucial fixture while also providing the latest injury news from a Chelsea perspective. Below is every word the Chelsea head coach had to say:

How is everyone after the long journey?

Yeah, we're okay, the players had a rest yesterday and we have a session this afternoon.

Is there any update on Romeo Lavia and his injury?

Yeah, we don't have an update at the moment, so we need to wait still some hours to do all the checks that he needs, but for sure at the moment he's injured.

But how bad is it?

It's painful, so we need to do all the checks and then we'll see.

Pedro Neto back for you this week?

Pedro, he had a session yesterday with the physio outside in the pitch, it was good, and today he will travel with us and then we'll take the final decision.

Wayne Rooney has criticised your rotation in recent weeks. Do you agree/understand his comments?

I said already many times, we are in a moment, in an era where anyone can say what they want, it's correct, I completely respect, but I also said after the Qarabag game, that since I joined the club, it's also my view to rotate players, and no-one complained in the moment that you don't win a game. I can understand that no-one disagreed. I think that when the rotation is Andrey Santos, Brazil international player, Jorrel Hato, Holland international player, Estevao Willian, Brazil international player, it's not about rotation. They are good, they are talented, they are young, and for sure when they are young, you have to give them the chance to make some mistakes, to be better. The same thing I think happened in the past with Josh Acheampong. But again, I understand that when you don't win a game, the problem is the rotation or defending.

As a player though, did you like it when you rotated?

I love the rotation as a player.

I don't believe you. You liked lining up against a different person every week, did you?

I think in this moment football is a bit different compared to years ago, in terms of physicality and intensity. For me personally, it's impossible to play with the same players 65 games in one season, Champions League, Premier League. And you cannot say, but why years ago it was possible? Because it was different. It was not so physical. I played for 20 years. It was not so physical. Now it's changed.

So you need to rotate. This is my personal view. And I think you need to do that. If you want to see a season like a marathon, then when you are in February, when you are in March, that is the last spring, probably you have to think in a different way. But at the moment, I think you have to think like a long race.

Defensively though, do you think it can be a problem? You look at Arsenal, they've got the two centre-halves, they play every week, they play every week together, they've got a connection there. Is that a problem?

I think, first of all, at the beginning of the season, with Levi's [Colwill] injury, for sure we lost, I said many times, in my view, in the way we wanted to play, our best defender, in terms of build-up. From there, we tried to find solutions. We tried to solve problems. We tried to adjust things. We were playing with three at the back in build-up. We started to play with two at the back in four or five games. We tried to find solutions, different solutions. Last game, we kept a clean sheet with Trev [Chalobah] and Wes [Fofana]. They just said to me this morning that last year, after 11 Premier League games, we had two clean sheets. This season, after 10 games, we have already four clean sheets. So, I don't know.

Are you where you expected at this point of the season?

I think we tried to win all the games. Also, I can understand that this season, the expectation has risen around the team. Again, last year, after 11 games, I think we had 19 points. If we are able to win tomorrow, we have more points this season compared to last season. So, do we have consistency or not? The big difference for me, personally, from this season and last season, is the expectation around the team. Because the numbers are there and we can be even better than last season. But because the expectation has risen, it's obviously a big difference.

What is even better than last season? Can you compete for the title?

I said many times, I don't like to think where we can be in April, May, June. I like to think how we can win tomorrow. This is the only target I have in my mind at this moment. Then after tomorrow, we have an international break. And then we go again. But for me, if you want to try to compete, you have to think about the next one, next one, next one. And then again, when we need the last sprint in March, April, it depends where we are, and then we decide.

How concerned are you becoming that Lavia just cannot, doesn't seem to be able to string together any run of games?

It's a shame. It's a shame in this moment also because we are trying to minimise menus for him. But even with that, he's injured again. We need to insist until we don't find the right solution for him.

On tomorrow's game, you played them just over a week ago. What can you take from that game going into tomorrow's this time at home?

It was, you know, first half very good, second half we struggled. But also they changed the manager, the one that is in charge now. For sure, some similarity, but at the end, again, these are the games that we need to win. Because when you do the right things against Liverpool, when you do the right things against Tottenham, then you have to confirm that. You have to continue to do that.

How much harder is it to prepare for a game against a manager-less team?

It's difficult for this reason. Also it's difficult because, as I said, we played Wednesday night. Yesterday the players were off. We have a small session today and we have a game tomorrow. So it's also the game plan that is different.

Is Estevao ready to start back-to-back games?

No, he's ready to start. For sure he's ready to start. But if Estevao starts, another one is on the bench. And probably the other one also wants to start. We just try to do the best for Estevao. We are helping him in terms of adapt to England. Again, last week he was complaining about it being cold. Last week was still October. Imagine December, January! He has to adapt. He's happy. He's doing fantastic. For sure he's a talented player for this club.

What do you say to him when he says, 'I'm too cold'?

That it's still hot!

You've been nominated for the FIFA Best Men's Coach of the Year. What does that nomination mean to you and how do you reflect on your year personally?

I'm very happy, first of all, because it's a nice moment. But again, it's because of the players. Because, at the end, they play the game. Also, a few weeks ago, a month ago, was the other nomination for the Ballon d'Or of Coach, something like this. And it's fantastic. It's good. It's nice to be there. But the most important thing at the end is how the players play the game.

Does Lavia's injury cause a problem in being able to rest Moises Caicedo?

Absolutely, yes. When you have a chance to rotate also. And the other day, I think we said already, two or three times, that we have Caicedo, we have Enzo Fernandez, we have Pedro Neto, we have Joao Pedro, that they are all players that they are not training every day, because of small issues. So if we are able to give them some time off, rest, it's better. But in this moment, you see, Moi, the other day, after five minutes, he was on the pitch. In the past, we used Andrey Santos as a No.6. In the past, we used also Josh as a No.6. And Reece is playing as a No.6. But for sure, when you have more options, it's better.

Can I talk about the long throw? Wolves were one of the teams that have scored a goal against you from a long throw. But we admired what you did at Tottenham, where you put the three up and cleared the penalty area. And that seemed to work very well. Were you happy with that?

As I said, when we were conceding goals, I guess at first it worked quite well. Hopefully, it can work also tomorrow, in case we need. But again, you'll find a solution to put three players up on the pitch. And probably they are adapting and do something different. As I said many times, it's like a chess game. You do something, the other one does something different. You always try to be ready.

Have you got a long throw option?

Yes, we have. But not now. I said that I'd like to evolve as a coach if the long throw can be a solution. We want to use it. At the moment, no. We never know. You've got some that can throw it that long, haven't you? We need to try a little bit.