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The full transcript from Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior's pre-match press conference ahead of the Blues' FA Cup fifth round tie with Wrexham on Saturday evening
Liam Rosenior has just completed his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup fifth round tie with Wrexham on Saturday evening.
The Blues continue their FA Cup journey in north Wales this weekend with a tough tie against the Championship playoff hopefuls. Rosenior has just concluded his pre-match presser at Cobham - and here is every word the Chelsea head coach had to say:
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How is Estevao Willian?
Yeah, I'd say he's back on the pitch but he's not ready for this one. We need to be really, really careful, given it was a hamstring injury. So he just needs to clear a few more markers before we put him back in. But obviously it'll be a big boost to have him back in the group.
Anyone else?
No. Jamie Gittens is getting really close, which is great. He had a really positive scan. So hopefully within the next seven days he'll be back in the group. In terms of from the Aston Villa game, there's no injuries from that, which is fantastic.
And Romeo Lavia, is he ready to go from the off? It feels like a good opportunity for him...
It is. I'm delighted for him. Romeo will definitely play a part and he'll play a huge part for the rest of the season. We know of his attributes. He's been itching to play but we've tried to build him in the best possible way. But yeah, his chance is to come and he's definitely going to play in his next few games.
What are your plans with the goalkeepers in the next few weeks?
For me, genuinely, I look at the goalkeeper position maybe differently on each game. I want there to be competition in every area of the pitch. I know traditionally if there's a change of goalkeeper, it's like he's now the No.1. It's not the case. It's not the case at all. So we will pick and I will try and pick the best team possible for each game. And Filip [Jorgensen] has been waiting, not waiting, he's been working for his opportunity. I thought he took his opportunity really, really well. He was a massive influence in the game in terms of our build structure and how we created chances and goals came from Fil. And he put in a really good performance. But Rob's put in great performances as well. But I want there to be competition in every area of the pitch.
Does the goalkeeper help build continuity in the team, though?
Yeah, you need continuity, but you need to win games of football. And there's different ways, modern coaching or old school or anything. I will pick the team that I think is best to win each game. I don't think I've kept the same XI in any game that we've played. Now, people can say you need continuity. And if we lose, then we don't have enough continuity. If we win, then it's the right decision. I made a decision about the Aston Villa game that I think was proven correct. Hopefully, I'll make more correct decisions moving forward.
How has Sanchez reacted? Have you had an honest conversation with him?
I already have done. I've been really honest with Rob. He was really disappointed not to play the game, which I expect for every player, whether they're a goalkeeper or an outfield player. But the way Rob responded in training, the way he responded in terms of supporting Filip, in terms of the warm-up, in terms of in the dressing room, was magnificent. There was no difference in it. And I've spoken about [Alejandro] Garnacho and the way he's responded to not being in the team. If we're going to be successful in the short and long term, you need a group, you need a squad with the right mentality. And Rob, so far, has been absolutely magnificent in that.
Have you watched any of the Wrexham documentary?
I've seen a few.
Have you?
Yeah, I've seen a few. When you see a club grow, develop, improve and come up through the leagues, it's a great story. They've done a great job. I think Phil [Parkinson] has done an incredible job, the way he's managed the team and the position they're in in the league as well now. We know it's going to be a really, really difficult game. It's a club that's on the rise and there's a good energy and a good vibe around. It's hard to play against that. We take the game really seriously. For us, it's an opportunity to win a trophy.
Do you ever fancy becoming an actor on camera?
I'll leave the acting to the professionals. No, it's brilliant. I think to be open with the public about how a football club works and people are interested in it, it's been a great story for them and hopefully after the game, it continues for them.
You're going to be the baddies tomorrow, aren't you?
That's what football's about. That's what the FA Cup is about and we need to be respectful of that. We understand we're the favourites to win the game, rightfully so, and we need to go and play like that tomorrow evening.
How important is it for you, personally, to win your first trophy as soon as possible?
That's why I'm here. That's what you dream of as a player or a coach or a manager. You want to win things and the FA Cup is an amazing competition for the tradition and history. But what we have to do tomorrow is not think about the trophy or the finals, concentrate on Wrexham. I think so far in my time, if I go back to the Charlton game or the Hull game, what pleased me so much in those games was the application of the players. I thought we were excellent and we're going to have to be at the same level, at least, to win a game tomorrow.
How important is it to win trophies at a club of this size?
[It's] what you work for. But if you focus on the trophy at the end of the season, you're probably not going to win anything. It's the next game. It really is. We have to focus on the next game. The players are just outside, just finishing training now. They're in a really good frame of mind. Obviously, the Aston Villa result and performance has given us confidence but, at the same time, we need to focus on this game and make sure we come through at the other side.
How important is it to rotate your squad?
I've said from day one I'm going to use the squad. I've just said I don't think I've had the same XI in any game that we've played because I know I've got an excellent squad. My idea and the club's idea is to build a squad to win trophies and you need to rotate. It's impossible. I don't know what the stat is but from us playing in the Club World Cup, we've played over 100 games in a short space of time. We need to make sure we're strong enough to compete in every game but we're expected to win every game that we play.
There's a lot of noise around Arsenal and their style of play. What do you make of Mikel Arteta's style?
They're a very good team. That's why they are where they are. I think they're very well organised in every aspect of the game. I think the beautiful thing about football is you can play any way that you want to play. If you believe in it. They believe in what they do. Everybody has a different idea. That's why you have different managers with different styles. I'm not there to judge. I don't judge any other team. I respect every team in the way that they go about things and you have to find a way to adapt and overcome that.
While Joao Pedro is flying, Liam Delap has found it a bit more difficult. Is the hamstring injury still playing on his mind a bit?
Liam's last game he got three assists. He was in a good place. You need a group. You need a group. Joao is on fire. But that's nothing on Liam. That's Joao's performances. That's the level that we need to have. I expect Liam, when he does get his opportunity to take it, to show his qualities. You're not comparing players. You're respecting them for their each individual strength. Liam will have his opportunities to play in big games. It's up to him to take it and I'm confident that he will.
Is he 100%?
Yes. He's absolutely fine.
What have you done to make Joao Pedro play like this?
I've had some great conversations with Joao from coming in. Like all of the players here, he's someone with huge, huge potential and he's shown that in his recent performances. It's not really about what I've done, it's about what he's done. He's been magnificent in his performances. Not just the goals, his intensity, his understanding of press, tactically what he gives us is magnificent. I think if you look at the teams that I manage and I coach, we try to create as best chances as possible for our men, which is normally in the middle of the goal, six yards out. It's been really pleasing to see the goals that we scored against Aston Villa. I know they're tap-ins, but he's in the right place at the right time.
The sort of goals that he wasn't scoring before?
I don't look at what hasn't happened before, I look at what I'm seeing now. He's capable of doing it. It's really exciting for us to have a player of his level, performing at the level that he is at the moment.
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