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. There's an early Christmas present there, a little plane.
00:35Yeah, 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.
00:45The worst 48 hours quote. 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 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 has it been a full week of training and now they're going to have some 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 their pre-Christmas break and he's going to weigh them when they come back. Is 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.
03:26Yes, I'm suspended in almost 100 games. I've been suspended for three times. One for celebration and two times for yellow card.
03:41Unfortunately, I will be on the stand, but Will is there, Danny 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.
03:59Obviously, Villa on an amazing run. Ten games winning run. It will be a club record, or equal their club record if they make it at 11. I guess you're right to spoil that party.
04:11Yeah, they are doing fantastic. But 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 10th edition 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.
04:51I think it's a good option for Thomas, but at the end it's Thomas' decision.
05:05Just because we're not yet in January, but everyone was already talking about transfers.
05:12Antoine Semenya was linked with Chelsea, but that seems that's not going to happen. Was he a player that you were interested in at any point?
05:20I'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.
05:38Is there 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 it's 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 want 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, OK, 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's top on your wish list for your team in 2026?
07:14Yeah, continue to grow, that is the most important thing, continue to improve.
07:19Then also in terms of injury, I think it's normal when you have injury in football because when you play every 2-3 days it's normal,
07:26you know, the amount of games, the minutes, but for sure if they can be healthy all of them it's the best thing.
07:33But again, we are going to try to find a solution game after game.
07:36Just one on Cole Parlo, is he ready for 90 minutes?
07:39I think he's ready for 90 minutes, the 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.
07:59You too.
08:00Thanks Alex.
08:01Ian?
08:02Hi Enzo, how are you?
08:03Are you two, Villa and Chelsea, both in the title race going into this game?
08:09Again, if in February or March we are where we are, probably yes, but now we are still in December, almost January, we see.
08:17Because last year you were in a very good position and we kept asking press calls after press calls about being in the title race,
08:24and 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...
08:35Right now we are competing, we are good, but now January, February, many games,
08:40so 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,
08:51Karl Palmer and Morgan Rodgers will win the game, is that just too simplistic and if it is...?
08:58No, they are two fantastic players, for sure they are going to be important during the game,
09:07but I think both players need the other ten around them to support them and 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, Esteval.
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 Esteval or Brazil.
09:31How can this kid be? Obviously he is still only a teenager.
09:37Can 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,
09:46but he needs to continue to improve, he needs to work hard,
09:50but for sure if he does that he can be one of the top players in the future.
09:55Have a good Christmas.
09:56You too, thank you.
09:57Thanks, Ian. Rob?
09:58Rhys James was arguably the difference in getting Chelsea going in the second half on Saturday.
10:06Is he now playing and behaving like the captain he wanted when you were critical last season?
10:12Absolutely, yes.
10:14What is he doing now that affects his difference?
10:17I think he's growing in terms of leadership, he's growing also in terms of players,
10:24because he's playing more minutes, more minutes, more minutes, and this is the reason why we are all happy.
10:30First of all, because he can be fit, he can be healthy, and 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,
10:46is he the most important player you think he's got in your squad at the moment?
10:50He's one of the main players in terms of, for different reasons.
10:56Academy player is from the house, he's the captain, when he's fit, he's one of the best players we have, no doubt.
11:04So for 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 Mavesco Christmas Day like? What's the meal? Do you cook?
11:24My mum is here, and when my mum 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.
11:35She's in charge of the kitchen. It's just family time with the kids, and we're going to be there.
11:45And again, it's a 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.
12:01So, yeah, the menu will be like that.
12:05Okay. Thanks, guys. Cameras off, please.
12:07And we will start a written section embargoed for 10.30.
12:13I'll see you in a minute.
12:15Yeah.
12:17Yeah.
12:19Cool.
12:21.
12:23That's it.
12:25I feel like I'm sorry.
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