00:00Morning. Good morning, thank you for joining us. We will take the usual format today and begin with Sky Sports News. Gary Cottrell, away you go.
00:28Morning, Merry Christmas. I think it's the new sponsor for the club.
00:39I hope you enjoy playing with it. Talking about planes, you did a bit of plane speaking, didn't you, a couple of weeks ago? Any developments, any updates?
00:50No, no, no, I just, again, also after the, sorry, before Newcastle game, I already spoke about that, so nothing to add.
01:03No meeting with anyone from the sporting director's department or the ownership?
01:10Again, before Newcastle game, in the press conference, I said that we had a meeting, that the relation is good and we all focus on, you know, Aston Villa game, the next game, the next game, so nothing to add.
01:30But the players' Christmas party, I see, down here at the training ground, how was the spirit? All Christmas Eve?
01:36Yeah, it was very good. Family time, players with friends, with kids, so it was a nice day, yeah.
01:44In terms of, just before I move on, any injury updates, Esteval, how's he looking?
01:50He's back, he's back, he's available for Saturday, him and also Liam Delap.
01:56Liam's back and available? Is that a bit sooner than you thought?
02:02No, we didn't know exactly for how long he needs to be out, but as I said, he's available for Saturday, he's available also for Esteval, so very happy for both.
02:15Oh, that's great news. So what does Christmas look like for the players? Have they had time off this week or is it a four-week training and now they're going to have time off?
02:24No, we are, yeah, after Newcastle, they are two days off. We train yesterday, we train today, tomorrow off and then Friday session and Saturday game.
02:34Because I know you've worked for a while with Pep and he's given his players a bit of time off this week, but he weighed them before they went away for that kind of pre-Christmas break and he's going to weigh them when they come back.
02:47Is that something you'll be doing?
02:50It's Pep's choice and he considers to do that. I think every manager probably thinks in a different way, but again, you have to respect a different point of view.
03:03Is it something you would do, though, or do you trust the players to do the right thing on Christmas?
03:08No, I think it's not about trust or don't trust. I think also Pep trusts players, but it's just a different way.
03:15You'll be in the stands, obviously, for the Villa game. Does that affect your preparation? How do you deal with that? You're obviously a very animated, very involved coach on the touchline.
03:27Yes, I'm suspended in almost 100 games. I've been suspended for three times, one for celebration and two times for yellow card.
03:40Unfortunately, I will be on the stand, but Will is there, Dan is there, the coaching staff is there.
03:51Does it affect the way you prepare, though, in terms of getting your messages to the players?
03:56No, no, no, no.
03:58Obviously, Villa on an amazing run, ten games winning run. It will be a club record, well, equal their club record if they make it 11. I guess you're right to spoil that party?
04:11Yes, they are doing fantastic. They are doing fantastic this season, last season, years ago. With Unai, they are doing a fantastic job.
04:20And as you said, in this moment, they have ten games in a row. Hopefully, we can win the game on Saturday.
04:27Obviously, one of the subplots here is Cole Palmer, Morgan Rodgers, two players who would love to start in the number 10 position for England in the World Cup.
04:40Would you swap Morgan Rodgers for Cole Palmer?
04:45No.
04:46Why?
04:47Because I love Cole and Cole is my player.
04:51Yeah, I think it's a good option for Thomas, but at the end it's Thomas' decision.
05:06Just because we're not yet in January, but everyone was already talking about transfers, Antoine Semenya was linked with Chelsea, but that seems that's not going to happen.
05:17Was he a player that you were interested in at any point?
05:21I'm focused on Aston Villa. I'm not focused on players that they can arrive, players that they can leave.
05:28The only focus for me in this moment is Aston Villa game that for sure will be a tough game, because they are doing fantastic and we need to be focused on that.
05:38For a wide player, maybe that area of the pitch is something you would consider in January?
05:42Again, I know that I need to repeat every press conference exactly the same, but before Newcastle I spoke about my relation with the club and I said that is good.
05:53I spoke about Esteval and Delap back and now I need to repeat. I need to spoke about wide players and before Newcastle I said that I'm in love with the squad we have and I don't think we need to do something.
06:06But again, the next one I will answer the same question again.
06:13Alex?
06:14Same question.
06:15You said it will be a tough game at the weekend, how do you stop this Villa team? Where are the main threats?
06:23We need to do our best because they are a very good team, well organised, on the ball and off the ball is very clear what they do, the way they want to play.
06:33They are in this moment also full of confidence, that is very important in the football team.
06:39But again, we are going to try to do our best, try to win and continue to grow.
06:46If someone had told you at the start of this season that this is where Chelsea will be at Christmas, would you have said okay that sounds good?
06:56Yeah, we are in full competition, we are there, we are in Premier League fighting, we are semi-final Carabao, in Champions League we are there.
07:03FA Cup we are going to start in January so I think we are in a very good place in this moment.
07:09Coming to the end of the year, what is top on your wish list for your team in 2026?
07:14Continue to grow, that is the most important thing, continue to improve.
07:19Then also in terms of injury, I think it is normal when you have injury in football because when you play every two, three days it is normal.
07:26You know, the amount of games, the minutes, but for sure if they can be healthy all of them it is the best thing.
07:32But again, we are going to try to find a solution game after game.
07:36Just one on Cole Parler, is he ready for 90 minutes?
07:39I think he is ready for 90 minutes, yeah.
07:42The progression for a player is 45, one hour, 70, he already played one hour against Everton,
07:51he played more than 70 against Newcastle, so I think the progression is there.
07:58You too.
07:59Thanks Alex.
08:00Ian?
08:01Hi Enzo, how are you?
08:03Are you two, Filler and Chelsea, both in the title race going into this game?
08:09Again, if in February, March we are where we are, probably yes, but now we are still in December, almost January, we see.
08:18Because last year you were in a very good position and we kept asking you, press calls after press calls about being in the title race,
08:25and you kept saying it was just too early for this team.
08:27Is a title challenge this year too early for your team?
08:31Depends where we are in March.
08:33But right now?
08:34Give me an idea of where you need to go.
08:35Right now we are competing, we are good, but now January, February, many games, so we need to arrive to March and then we set the target.
08:45Is it too simplistic for us to say Saturday's game is whoever plays better has more effect, Karl Palmer and Morgan Rodgers will win the game?
08:54Is that just too simplistic?
08:56No, they are two fantastic players.
09:03For sure they are going to be important during the game, but I think both players need the other ten around them to support them and to help them to do the right things.
09:14So for sure it's about Morgan, it's about Cole, but it's about the team.
09:19Another player you've got available this weekend, Esteveu.
09:22So much has been written about this young man already.
09:25And when we talk about Cole and Morgan maybe going to the World Cup, likewise Esteveu or Brazil.
09:31How could this kid be? Obviously he is still only a teenager. Can he go on Monday to be one of the best in the world?
09:41I think he's already one of the best young players in the world, but he needs to continue to improve, he needs to work hard.
09:51But for sure if he does that, he can be one of the top players in the future.
09:56Have a good Christmas.
09:57You too, thank you.
09:58Thanks, Ian. Rob?
09:59Rhys James was arguably the difference in getting Chelsea going on Saturday.
10:06Is he now playing and behaving like the captain you wanted when you were critical last season?
10:13Absolutely, yes.
10:14What is he doing now that is different?
10:17I think it's growing in terms of leadership, it's growing also in terms of players because he's playing more minutes, more minutes, more minutes.
10:27And this is the reason why we are all happy. First of all, because he can be fit, he can be healthy.
10:34And then because we know that he can behave also as a leader.
10:38Given his history here and the amount of time he's been here and the influence he's having and how much turnover has been over the last few years, is he the most important player you think you've got in your squad at the moment?
10:50He's one of the main players.
10:51He's one of the main players in terms of, for different reasons. Academy player is from the
10:57house, he's the captain. When he's fit, he's one of the best players we have, no doubt.
11:05For sure, for me personally, he's a main player.
11:08Thanks, Rob. And we'll finish this section with a question from Martin.
11:12Hi, Enzo. You've got your players off tomorrow and therefore I'm assuming you're...
11:18What's an Enzo Moresco Christmas Day like? What's the meal? Do you cook?
11:24My mom is here and when my mom is here, no one is allowed to go in the kitchen. So she will be...
11:31You're out of the dugout and out of the kitchen, is that right?
11:33Exactly. She's in charge of the kitchen. It's just a family time with the kids and we're going to be there.
11:45And again, it's nice time for everyone, but especially I think for the kids.
11:49What is a Spanish Christmas meal?
11:51Italian. Italian. We used to have fish today. It's all about fish. So yeah, the menu will be like that.
12:04Okay. Thanks guys. Cameras off please. And we will start a written section embargoed for 10.30.
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