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The full transcript from Liam Rosenior's post-match press conference after Chelsea secured a crucial three points against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon
Liam Rosenior has just completed his post-match press conference following Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues have now leapfrogged the Bees with a crucial three points, with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer striking either side of half-time at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior's first taste of being a head coach in the Premier League has ended in victory - and here is how he reflected on the win:
What pleased you most about today's game?
By hook or by crook, I felt that attitude, the energy levels, value in the basics of football. When you play a good team like Brentford, who can play in many different ways, who are very, very good on set plays, long throws, they're so organised, Keith [Andrews] has done a great job. What pleased me the most, which is summed up in the two goals, the players' willingness to battle, to fight, to block shots, to make headers and tackles. That's the reason we got the clean sheet and actually it was that attitude that got us the two goals that win us the game.
Cole Palmer seemed frustrated today...
No, Cole, if you watch the last 15 minutes of the game and you watch the energy he puts into his press and his running for the team, I thought he was outstanding. It's impossible for any player or any team to be magnificent with the ball in every game, but you can still find a way to win. The other thing I would say about Cole and Reece [James] as well, they haven't trained. They've had no training time because they put themselves up. I couldn't play them against Arsenal. I'm so proud of them because they put themselves up and they ran themselves into the ground. They've had no training time with the knocks they picked up, which shows me a fantastic attitude and the more games and the more training sessions they get now, the better they'll perform.
What did you make of Robert Sanchez today?
He was outstanding today. He was outstanding in his distribution, a couple of fantastic long passes to our wide players, in terms of his command of the box, in terms of the saves that we needed him to make. It was a fantastic performance. It doesn't surprise me. I've known Rob for a long time. He's a very, very resilient lad.
Is Tosin Adarabioyo's injury serious?
He said he felt something in his hamstring. I don't know if it's serious. He said it felt better afterwards. But at the moment, I've got a really, really good bench that I trust and Wes [Fofana] is an outstanding player and I brought him on to help the team.
Would that change anything? Obviously, there's been talk about potentially signing a defender during this window. Would another injury make that more?
No, I don't think. We have our plans. We have our plans in terms of what we want to do. That won't make any real difference to our thinking.
A pleasing day?
Very pleasing. Brentford, I don't know where they are now. They were fifth in the league when we played them. They're a good team. Very good team. Very well organised. Very good without the ball. Really understand where they need to be with the ball. Very well organised on set plays. It was going to be a real test for us and sometimes you have to win the game in different ways. So for me, it's about winning. I've said that since I've come in. We didn't play the free-flowing football that I want us to in the end, but we got the job done and that's a really, really pleasing result for the players to give them and myself more confidence moving forward.
Palmer played 90 minutes...
For every player, whatever is right for them to be fit, to make sure they're healthy, to make sure they're available in the coming months. I'll keep making those decisions.
Your voice seems quite low. Is that because of the shouting on the touchline?
It started on Wednesday and I've tried to get it back after Wednesday and now it's going to be worse. It'll probably get worse as the games go on. No, I am passionate. I try to help the players in-game. So that's where my voice has gone.
Is it similar in training sessions?
Yeah, we've got Lego to come. I know where that came from. I've been doing a lot of clapping as well. I got sent a really, really good article that I enjoyed. I'm a coach and I want to help the players and we'll continue working really hard.
Is Estevao Willian ill?
Yeah, he was ill. It's running through the squad. There were a few, I won't say who, but there were a couple of players playing today who were complaining about their chests. They put in a magnificent effort. I felt that's why we weren't good with the ball. I won't give you names, it's not right for me to do that, but I'm so happy with the attitude of the group to get through this game.
Is that going to affect Pafos preparations in that you're still going to have to worry about containing this virus?
Yeah. Honestly, I'm just working day-to-day. So, for example, the night of the Arsenal game, Liam [Delap] was ill. Yesterday late, Estevao, we found out, had a temperature and a fever. We just have to be really adaptable and adjust the way that we work.
Important for Joao Pedro to score?
Not just this goal, his performance. We went a little bit more direct to take Brentford off the press early in the game. He won every duel. He was outstanding. There was a moment that makes me so happy in the first half. They were breaking on transition. He sprinted back 70 yards and made a tackle. That's what I love. That's what I want to see in my team. I've said to him, not just him, all of the players, the harder you work for the team, your chances come for you. He took his chance magnificently. It was a fantastic strike. I'm really, really excited to work with him and Liam and Marc [Guiu] as my strikers.
How impressed are you with Enzo Fernandez?
I'm so impressed. I knew what an outstanding player he was. I told him I was actually at the World Cup final when he played. It's not until you see a player up close and you get to know him and what he's about. I have to say he's a winner. The way he trains, the reason he plays so well is he trains 100%. I've enjoyed working with him. It's his birthday today, so I told him he should go to a steakhouse and enjoy some Argentinian steak. But no, he's a magnificent player. More importantly, he's a fantastic character and I love having him in this team.
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