Petr Cech spoke on Sunday about the club operating on
a day-to-day basis.
How is that uncertainty affecting everyone at Cobham?
No, there's no more uncertainty, it's the same situation as the last days.
There is no update and no other feeling around.
How would you describe the mood in the squad at the moment?
A good mood.
We couldn't have two more different games than we had in Norwich and against Newcastle
in terms of playing style, in terms of obstacles to overcome.
We relied heavily on our skilful play and we controlled the game in Norwich.
We managed to win the game.
Against Newcastle, it was a question of mentality, a question of resilience, physicality, focus
and defending, being brave and staying committed.
So it makes maybe any coach in the world – and me in particular – it makes me very happy
how we won this match, and that we won it late.
So the mood is good and I'm convinced the team knows what it took to be able to perform
like this, what it took to be able to produce results and this is what we're up to again
tomorrow.
When I say we allow ourselves to focus on what we can influence, I mean it.
This is what we do here in the training ground, and as I said, the focus is to take the responsibility
and take the responsibility for the people who take responsibility that we are in a big
club, and there are hundreds of them and this is what we do at the moment.
What's the latest team news, are Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta ready to start?
Yes, I think so, Marcos is ready to start, Azpi is ready to start.
Are Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi available?
We will try to have them later in training, but it will be a very, very tight race, so
this decision we will take later, after the training sessions.
But as you know they were not involved, nad the injuries they had, let's see if this is
worth the risk or if it's even possible, it will be very, very tight.
Will problems grow and become harder as time progresses, we've heard there may be problems
with travelling to Middlesborough?
We have to deal with it.
We have some new things to talk about, like how to arrive at games.
These are things that are normally taken care of by the organisation team and team management
team.
But now we have to stick together, have our heads together, give our opinions and find
solutions on matters like arriving at matches.
This was not the case before so there are some subjects we are not used to discussing,
but no problem we discuss it.
We spend some extra time, extra hours, to give our thoughts and find solutions.
We want to find solutions because, as hard as we want to play the match tomorrow and
make it to the next round, we to play the match on Saturday in the FA Cup and make it
into the next round.
You've been an excellent ambassador for Chelsea in the past two weeks, are you surprised how
well you've done that?
And do you need the next ownership to be one that allows you to focus being on a
head coach rather than an ambassador?
Before we discuss a new owner, a new owner needs to arrive, a new owner needs to be approved
and allowed to own the football club.
Then we can discuss about whether it's necessary to discuss about it.
Maybe, again, I'm not the right person because there is a process how you become an owner
in this league.
Of course, like I said after the last game, everybody relies on the reliability of the
process and the values which are behind the decisions, allowances and commitment to own
and run a club.
Did I have a choice?
No, I did not have a choice to take this role.
Do I need it?
No, but it's more or less day-by-day.
It's like this in England that not a lot of people in sports are talking at a football
club, it's a structure I really appreciate.
We talk inside and, of course, we have people who are in charge in different roles with
different responsibilities.
To the outside, it's more or less me that talks.
Was it always comfortable?
No, but I think it's necessary.
I don't think too much about it.
I try to be honest, give you insight, provide you with information, but more or less from
a sporting side and coach's heart.
This is what I try and what you can rely on.
I am more than happy if things calm down and we can speak about football more than ever.
What are the travel and hotel arrangements for Lille and what do you make of Boris Johnson's
spokesperson asking Chelsea supporters to stop chanting Roman Abramovich's name?
I heard about it.
I heard about it just some minutes ago.
I don't know if, in these times, it is the most important discussion to have in Parliament.
I don't know if fan chants being discussed in parliament means that we have to worry
about the priorities of this government.
But ok, listen, no need to comment from me.
We have really far more urgent things to discuss and handle.
There are restrictions and we have to deal with them.
There are adjustments in the amount of staff, who is travelling, how many rooms we have
in hotels and how we arrive at matches.
There will come some, to my understanding, that we can arrive at on a professional level.
It isn't about luxury and bling-bling.
This is just a professional level of sports, where we play with two days between matches
with our opponent having four days between matches and we arrive with the possibilities
of injuries.
For that, it is better to arrive with a plan rather than a bus.
We try to do it.
From my understanding, we have a framework to go and play in Lille with absolutely no
excuses.
Regarding these organisations, it is already more difficult to arrange things on a professional
level, in the best way possible, for the FA Cup.
But we will deal with it.
As long as we have shirts and are alive as a team, we will be competitive and fight hard
for our success.
We owe it to the people who support us in a very invisible way.
Of course, we are in the spotlight and it is our responsibility to do so.
We will do it.
How impressed have you been with Edouard Mendy's development and how important is he to your
team?
Edouard is a top guy, a very strong character, very humble.
I think everyone at Chelsea, including the supporters wish him
success because he give everything for the team playing a key role.
I am so pleased with how he has developed.
He has been exceptional since I took over, played a key role.
He is mentally strong, also on the pitch, he has been key to our top performances.
He transmits that calmness to our defenders.
Always he thinks about the team.
I am very happy to have him in my squad, pleased to coach him and it’s great to have him
here every day.
He’s a fantastic character."
What do you expect from Lille?
To be honest, I think they played well at Stamford Bridge.
Very physical, attacked high up the pitch.
It was impressive.
They had a good pressing game, they were very brave and had the mentality that they had
nothing to lose and we expect the same thing tomorrow.
I know the stadium well and the atmosphere the fans create.
They will want to win and have nothing to lose.
I know they like being in these situations and give everything to put pressure on us
and ask questions of us.
They play an attacking 442.
They are fluid, aggressive and direct.
We have to be ready for that.
We are also confident in ourselves.
It’s halftime right now.
No match is decided by a 2-0 score.
The second half is tomorrow and we need another top performance.
Lille played Friday so had a good amount of time to recover.
That’s why we have to be ready physically and mentally for a tough game.