00:00Morning.
00:01Good morning.
00:02Good morning.
00:07Okay, good morning.
00:27We will take the usual format today and we will begin with James Green and Sky Sports News.
00:35Enzo, good to see you. Not too much of a break for you.
00:40We've just a week to prepare pretty much for the start of our league season.
00:44How ready do you feel you and squad are?
00:48We guess we are ready, but we need to wait for the real competition to verify that.
00:58As you said, there's been quite a short break. We're going to try to be ready.
01:08It's a unique build-up and a unique situation that you find yourself in.
01:13For you as a coach, is it? Almost learning on the job a little bit how this season will progress,
01:18knowing that your whole squad have had such a short pre-season?
01:22Yeah, for sure it's something new. It's something that unfortunately we don't have the answer
01:27because it never happened before.
01:30From me, from the sports scientists, from the doctors, it's something new.
01:35We don't have the answer. We're going to react on this new situation.
01:40That's why we need to pay attention to all the details.
01:45Pay attention to details with regards to player welfare, I can imagine.
01:48Obviously, you lost Levi Colwell last week. First of all, first time we've had the chance to speak to you.
01:53How is he and how much of an impact will that have on your team this year?
01:58Anyway, now it's okay. I'm aware that he has to be a long time out. It's a big loss for us.
02:08You know how important Levi has been for us last season for the way we want to play.
02:17We said many times that we are able to create chances and to attack in the right way if we are able to build in the right way.
02:27And Levi was a huge part of our build-up. And now he's out and we want to try to find different solutions.
02:37Is there a different solution internally or externally?
02:41We are trying to find a solution internally, but the club knows exactly what they think and we'll see what's happening.
02:50What do you think?
02:51I think we need a central defender, but also we are looking for internally a solution.
02:59But as I said, the club knows exactly what they think.
03:04With the transfer market, you said the club are always active.
03:07If there's no other business between now and close of the window, would you be happy with the squad you've got to attack a season that includes Champions League football this year?
03:17We have a fantastic squad. We are happy with the squad we are, no doubt.
03:24But we said many times that when the window transfer is open, anything can happen.
03:30My final question. We are building up to a brand new campaign.
03:35What are your expectations out of this Chelsea side this year?
03:40Because it feels like there's a completely different aura around the club, not just internally but externally.
03:47A lot of fans are tipping Chelsea to compete for the Premier League title this season.
03:52Certainly that wasn't the conversation last year.
03:54So for you, how do you see a successful season come the end of this campaign?
03:59For me, this shows how good the team has been this season.
04:04Because as you said, when I joined the club one year ago, the noise around the club was completely different noise compared to now.
04:18For many reasons.
04:19Now personally, I will always say the same.
04:22For me, I don't like to look in two months, in three months, in four months because that doesn't exist in football.
04:30I like to watch tomorrow.
04:33I like to be focused on tomorrow's game in two days against Palace.
04:37Then in terms of target, my personal target, the target of the team is to try to improve every day.
04:44And then we see what happens.
04:46Thanks, James.
04:47Alex?
04:48Hi, Enzo.
04:49Just following on from that, I'm sure you heard that Ars Slott said that he expected Chelsea to win the league last season.
04:56What was your reaction when you heard that?
04:59This is what Slott said about us last season?
05:02Yeah, about Chelsea last season.
05:04I didn't know, to be honest.
05:05I said already, I don't pay attention to what the other people say about us.
05:16Also because it's easy to say that more clubs are involved.
05:23I don't like to play this kind of game.
05:26I like to be focused on players, try to improve, and then what they say, they can say what they want.
05:32How much stronger do you think your squad is going into this season compared to last season?
05:38We are a better team, for sure, compared to one year ago.
05:41And the reason why is because we work together every day for one season.
05:47I think what the club, what the team achieved the first season has been top, fantastic.
05:54Finishing Champions League, Conference League, that was the competition that we were in.
05:58The club World Cup.
05:59So, more than this, it was quite difficult to achieve something more.
06:04Now it's a new season, and we see.
06:07Crystal Palace on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
06:10I'm sure you watched the Community Shield.
06:11How high do you rate them?
06:12How big a test will it be?
06:14It will be very, very difficult.
06:17It has been the Community Shield, it has been the FA Cup against City.
06:20So, they beat in two finals.
06:22Probably the two best teams in the last 10-15 years in England.
06:26Man City and Liverpool.
06:27So, this shows how complicated it will be on Sunday.
06:30Reflecting on your games against them last season,
06:32are there two games that Chelsea could have won, should have won?
06:36I think in both games probably we deserve something more.
06:39But sometimes you don't deserve and you get points,
06:42so it's football, it's normal.
06:43But for sure, as I said, the two finals they won, show how good they are.
06:49You said Wesley Papano could be back in the matchday squad at the weekend.
06:53Is that still the case?
06:54You're hopeful to give him some minutes still?
06:56He could be available.
06:59And we'll see.
07:01Thank you, good luck.
07:02Thank you, thank you.
07:03Thanks, Alex.
07:04Nizar?
07:05How is Bani Yusile, Lavia and Trevor Shalabar as well?
07:10How they are?
07:11How are they?
07:12Yeah.
07:13No, Benoit is in the process to come back.
07:17Romeo is exactly the same.
07:19And Trevi is OK.
07:20I said that was the word for him.
07:23I just wanted to ask, you were speaking about Levi,
07:25and he sounds special to you, Levi Colwell.
07:27But what about the other centre-backs here in the squad?
07:30Are they able to step up?
07:31Are you working with them?
07:32People like Bani Yusile, people like Josh Actionpong, people like Shalabar?
07:36Could they play that role on the left side of the bench?
07:39Benoit is not on the left side.
07:45When we build, we build with Levi in the middle.
07:48It's different to the player in the middle than on the left side.
07:52Last year, we played 64 games.
07:55And we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin.
08:00Now, Levi is out.
08:02The only one that he can do that job well is Tosin.
08:05But we have Premier League, Champions League, these kind of players.
08:10The rest, they can adapt.
08:12Atto, that is a new one.
08:13He never played making three, the guy in the middle, last season.
08:18So, it's not about being central defender.
08:20Yes, central defender, but he has to do what?
08:23He can do that.
08:25Can he do that?
08:26It's different.
08:27It's not just about that.
08:29And also, we have players that unfortunately, like Wes or Benoit,
08:36they have in this moment some problems.
08:38And this is the reason why I said that the club knows exactly
08:43what they think about central defenders.
08:46Okay, we'll finish that section there.
08:49Cameras off, please.
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