Every word Liam Rosenior said on Cole Palmer return, imminent Chelsea transfer, Romeo Lavia injury

The full transcript from Liam Rosenior's pre-match press conference as the Chelsea head coach previewed his team's Premier League clash with Brentford at the weekend

Liam Rosenior has just completed his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Brentford this weekend.

Rosenior suffered his first defeat of his Blues tenure on Wednesday evening at the hands of Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. On Saturday afternoon, Chelsea welcome the Bees to Stamford Bridge and Rosenior has just previewed the match. Here is every word the head coach had to say:

First of all, how's that illness? Is Liam Delap okay?

No, he's still at home at the moment, recovering as is Jamie Gittens. Our club doctors are doing everything they can to contain what looks to be a virus because some members of our staff have come down with it as well. Had a meeting today with the players about washing your hands, the basics, which is really important and hopefully we can contain it. We have a busy period, so we need everyone ready to go and fit and healthy.

What's the latest on Cole Palmer and Reece James?

Yeah, both of them are training today, so we just need to assess them after training, make sure that they come through all of the protocols they need to come through. It would be great to have them back in the squad. At the moment, it looks like they could be.

Is Facundo Buonanotte leaving?

Well, firstly on Facundo, I thought he was magnificent against Charlton. I thought he gave a really good performance. I felt in terms of the games and the minutes he's had, it's not quite what he wants. So we're looking into the best solution for him. I'm in constant communication with the sporting directors and the ownership about potential transfers that could be good for us, both coming in and coming out. But I said to them when I first came in, I want to look at this group. I want to assess this group because you get good surprises. And if something is right for us in any position, that's going to help the team and the club, we'll look at it.

You spoke about Robert Sanchez last night and him doing some things different. Can you expand on that?

Yeah, I got asked the same question last night. There's always differences. Every manager that comes in has a different idea. There are different triggers. There are different patterns in terms of what I'm asking, not just Rob to do, but the whole team. Positions you take up and build, it's never going to be perfect the first time. When it's right to be direct and to play, especially against a man-to-man press, it's the right thing to do. It's just making sure that the decision-making, not just of Rob, of the whole team is there. That will come.

Rob's had an outstanding season. Filipe [Jorgensen] showed really, really good signs of his understanding as well against Charlton. But what I have to do is to find balance. I want to win now. I want to improve the team and put my stamp on it. And that's what we'll work on for Brentford.

Does Sanchez remain your first-choice goalkeeper?

It's the same for every position. I'm here to assess every position. I don't have No.1s or No.2s. That's not how I work. If you look at me at every club, there has to be competition. I work on performance, not just in the goalkeeping department, but in every position on the pitch. You have to earn your spot in this team. I have a very good squad. So for me, that's the message to all of the players. I don't have guaranteed No.1s or guaranteed No.9s. They have to earn their place in the team.

I think you played Keith Andrews once in your career. Do you remember that?

No.

In 2011...

That's right, it was so long ago. What was the score?

You won. Hull beat Ipswich 1-0.

Oh wow.

That was the only time I think you've ever met in your professional playing career. I wondered, obviously analysts together, similar age, both been given opportunities at Premier League clubs. Did you keep that communication? And clearly, obviously impressed with what he's done so far...

Yeah, he's done a great job. I'm not surprised because I've known Keith. I've had really good conversations with him over the last few years. He's always been really passionate about the game. He's got a lot of experience in coaching in different roles. And his team are performing really, really well. I've got a good relationship with him. He's a good guy. Yeah, really not surprised at what he's done so far with Brentford. He's at a good club where they have a clear idea about their infrastructure and what they want to do. And analysing his team, they're in a good form. It'll be a difficult challenge for us, but one that we're really looking forward to.

I'm sure it's all been a bit of a whirlwind for you, but how would you sum up the last 10 days? Has anything taken you by surprise or is everything exactly as you expected?

Not really, in terms of the surprise. The biggest surprise is I felt how at home, how welcomed I've been. Honestly, the staff, everybody involved in the club here at the training ground, at the stadium last night. The players as well. They've made my life very easy. They're a great group to walk into. I think a lot of the messages I've given to the players they've taken on board. It's a disappointing result. Disappointing to lose the goals in the manner we did, but I've seen really, really encouraging signs as well. And I just want to keep that going. So overall, the surprise is that there haven't really been any surprises.

The Chelsea fans were singing your name as well last night. How important is that relationship to you?

I think it's two-way. For them to sing my name, they need to enjoy what they see on the pitch. They need to see us attack games. They need to see us run. But most importantly, they need to see us get results. So in order for that to continue, we need to perform on the pitch. And that's what my focus is on. And hopefully I can develop a really, really good relationship with them. Not for what I say here, but for what I see on the pitch.

You just said Brentford are a great team. In your opinion, from what you've seen of them this season, what makes them dangerous?

I think what makes them dangerous is their property in every phase of the game. All 11 players are willing to defend. Again, a very good team on set plays. Whether that's from long throws, wide free kicks or corners. They're a team with no ego. In the most positive times, I can say that. They work really hard for each other. They're very well organised, as every team in the Premier League is. So we know the challenge. We know we have to be at a really, really good level on Saturday. We're going to prepare the game, as we always do, in the best possible way.

How can you improve Chelsea's home form?

I think the past is the past. I said that to the players when I first came in. I can only affect the now. If I affect the now, I affect the future. For me, I'm not focused on anything that's happened in the past. I want us to be front-footed. I want us to be high-tempo, especially in the beginning of the game, and take the game to the opposition, so they know it's a difficult game to come to Stamford Bridge. Actually, I want to play so we get the crowd on our side. They're all things that we'll talk about in the next couple of days. But the most important thing is that we do the basics really, really well. Again, I keep going back to the basics. Win duels, defence at play as well. That's something we have to improve. Even from last night, all three goals. One's from a corner, one's from a throw-in, one's from a free-kick. We need to switch on a little bit more in those moments, and if we do, with the talent we have and with the players we have and the team, we have a good chance of winning the game.

There are fan protests planned for Saturday. How difficult an environment is this to walk into?

Clearly, there's a section of the fans who are not very happy at the moment. Like I said, all I can focus on is my job. My job is focused on the pitch. I understand fans. All fans, they pay money, they love their club, they want the best for the club. What's best for the club is that we win games of football on the pitch. The more we do that, the less chances we have of demonstrations. Like I said in the beginning, I'm here to try and help this club win trophies in the short and long term. That's what my focus is on, is winning the next game and making people go, I'm happy.

Do you need patience to make such progress?

I think every manager would love patience. If that's a reality, that's not down to me. For me, I just want us to focus on the now. Like I keep saying, we have to be the best team we can be in this moment. I have to go after certain things because I don't have training time. The team are recovering today. I have probably half an hour, in terms of the physical load, tomorrow to work on things and patterns in training. But there are other things I can go after, in terms of what we look like, what we stand for as a group. And with the players I have here, I think we can make meaningful progress, as you say, in a short space of time.

That's tough, isn't it?

I'm privileged and lucky to do this job. I'm lucky and fortunate to be manager of this football club. I always knew it was going to be a difficult job, but it's a job that I'm enjoying and relishing, and hopefully I can be successful.

Do you think you need to bring players in this month?

I think if we do, it needs to be the right player. We need to be patient. I want to assess this group. It's really, really important to me. I like to give the players I work with a chance to show good surprises. We still have time. We have conversations every day, myself and the board, about potential transfers, both out and in, but at the same time, I need to focus on the players in the building. If I feel it's the right time or the right player, then we'll make that decision.

Is Tyrique George part of your plans or will he leave this month?

The honest answer is I don't know. Tyrique is a player of immense potential who I've been aware of for a long time. He's been unfortunate. The first game against Charlton, he travelled with the group. He wasn't in the group. Yesterday he was on the bench. I've said this to the players, your background, whether you're an academy player, whether you've been signed for £100 million, it's about what you do in training. I have to say his attitude to training and what I've seen his attitude in the group has been top class. So who's to know? A lot of things have to come together for a player to leave. You need the right interest. You need the right offer. It needs to be right for the player. At the moment, I've had nothing in terms of Tyrique, and I continue to work with him in the group.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia's fitness?

Romeo's on the pitch. He's not with the group, but seeing him out on the pitch doing his rehab, he's looking really, really good. I think we all know, I know, I love him firstly as a lad, as a player. He's someone I would love to work with in the long term because he's just an outstanding footballer. The most important thing for him now is to make sure we don't push him too hard so that when he does come back, he's back for good and I can get some real work into him tactically. But for me, he's a player that I can't wait to have back in the group at the same time, and I'm really, really looking forward to having him back with us.

No time frame?

No time frame. No time frame, that has to be. But it's right in terms of him coming back and being back for good.

How do you see Josh Acheampong being used for the rest of the season?

Yeah, I think the beautiful thing with Josh is that he can play five different positions, he can play on the left, he can play left centre-back, he can play right centre-back, he can play midfield, he can play on the wing. It's a great thing to have for a player of his age and his temperament. I've been so impressed with him so far in the last two games and in training. He's a very level-headed kid with a lot of humility, which is a great sign. And yeah, I'm going to keep pushing him, I'm going to keep demanding different things from him because he has a really, really bright future.

Do you personally place much responsibility on the more senior players in the squad helping with the development of the younger guys who play in that position?

No, I think when I was a player, the most important conversations I had were with senior players. I didn't listen as much to my coaches as I hope my players do to me when I was a player. Yeah, I want that interaction between the group. Whether it's Josh speaking to Reece James, that is an unbelievable conversation with the experiences that Reece has had. I want to encourage that interaction between the group, but I also want the players to feel confident enough in their own game and in their own abilities to do that.