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00:18Good morning all, hope everyone's well. We'll kick off with an as live and then we'll go into a 10
00:22.30 Sunday, so it's 10.30 Sunday as we play Monday.
00:25If we're already in the room, we'll kick off with Paul from Sky.
00:31What did you learn from the game last night and what impact does it have on your approach to Burnley
00:37on Monday?
00:37Nothing, we focus just on the things that are in our hands, which is to prepare in the best possible
00:45way to win Burnley, that's it.
00:47What's your team's place for the game?
00:50Not much at the moment, we still have a few days till Monday, so we'll have to wait and see
00:55how certain players evolve and whether they are available enough for the game.
00:58If you beat Burnley, will you and the players gather on Tuesday to watch Bournemouth against Manchester City?
01:06We prepared just to beat Burnley, that's it.
01:09It's 10 years ago since Jamie Boddy had the best teammates around his house to watch Chelsea help them save
01:17the title.
01:18I'm just wondering, is there a player in the squad who would be a most likely candidate to host that
01:23kind of evening?
01:24Again, I'm sorry, we're not thinking about that type of thing, the only focus is on Burnley and winning that
01:29game.
01:30That's the thing that we can control.
01:31What can you say about the focus at the moment, because here you are at this stage of the season
01:36again, two games away potentially, a week away from winning the league?
01:42Well, the team is really present. It's just, it's living the moment. It's emotional in a really good state, I
01:55think. The energy level is the right one. We have most players available now.
02:01OK, we lost Ben the other day, but the other ones are coming back as well. So, yeah, and everybody
02:08obviously is so enthusiastic and so positive about the way that we can finish the season.
02:15In an ideal world, you won't need goal difference, but is that on your mind as part of the preparation
02:21for these games?
02:22First of all, you have to earn the right to win the game. And obviously, if I make a difference
02:26with more goals, that's obviously even better.
02:30But yeah, we're all playing very tough matches. We had a really tough match against West Ham. We managed to
02:36win it. And it was a great feeling, but we know ideally that scoring goals are going to be important.
02:44On that West Ham game, what have you made of the reaction to that West Ham disallowed goal in the
02:50days that followed? And in general, how do you find the consistency around decisions in a packed penalty area?
02:57Yeah. Well, the reaction from our side was extremely positive because we were so happy with the outcome and the
03:06fact that we won the game, such an important game for us as well.
03:08And we had a really, really intense week as well with the semi-final of the Champions League. In relation
03:15to the reaction, I haven't seen any of that. I'm sorry. I'm very consistent on that since July to now.
03:22No, I think it's very clear. I mean, I think anybody who has played football, no discussion about their decision
03:29and I'm glad they took the right one.
03:31And it's a clear blow for Ben White, obviously. What has the World Cup come upon? Do you know that?
03:39We have to wait and see. It looks like a long-term injury. So at the moment the focus is
03:45that, yeah, when can we have him back to be available for Arsenal. And that's not gonna happen in many,
03:53many weeks.
03:55Just finally, how much thought will go into, in particular, your right-back position for the closing weeks? Not just
04:02in the league, but of course PSG, do you think of their left-hand side?
04:07We need to look at alternatives. The two players that we have, they are not available at the moment, so
04:12we need to look and do something else.
04:15The good thing is that we have experienced that all over the pitch this season, because when we had issues,
04:21normally they've been in the same positions as well.
04:24And we have managed to find still the right level of performance and consistency, so I'm sure we will do
04:31that. Thank you.
04:33Jake, Premier League. Did you watch the game last night?
04:36No, I was in a sponsored dinner.
04:39Oh, OK.
04:41Was it nice?
04:43Eh?
04:43It was nice?
04:44It was good, with Emirates. Very good. Really nice people.
04:49Is it also potentially a little bit distracting for you and the players that the talk is not just about
04:55winning the game, but how many goals you might need to score comes into it as well?
05:01I think it's part of the narrative. I mean, there are various options and this could be one of those
05:06and it's a factor that it's important from the start of the season.
05:09We know that the difference is so small and you can make that difference bigger in your favour. Obviously, it
05:15can be important.
05:17How much has it helped at this stage of the season and how things have gone for you so far
05:21that actually this game on Monday is at home?
05:24Well, it's the schedule that we have. Obviously, it's been extremely demanding from the beginning. I think the team is
05:34coping with that in a really fantastic way.
05:36It's not our choice. We have the opportunity for our supporters. It's going to be a Monday night. Let's take
05:42it in a really positive way.
05:44We leave something incredible with our supporters against Atletico. If we can replicate any of that, I know that the
05:51team is going to respond very well.
05:53Alex Pipsi?
05:55Hi.
05:56Can I ask for Carlo Califero? He came off at half-time with an injury against him. Has he been
06:01able to train in the Sims or is he still waiting for that one?
06:05No, we don't know whether it's going to be available or not. We still have days ahead. Hopefully, it's nothing
06:11serious, but we'll have to wait and see how he reacts to that.
06:14And with the right-back position, you said you're going to look at alternative Christian Mascara's play there. Or is
06:20there a case you could say to Christian, is your position going to make it happen? Or will you try
06:26and be creative?
06:27There are different options in relation to the opponent as well and the things that we want to do. We
06:32set some players, but we need to be open as well to that, not only to one, but to two
06:38or three options.
06:40Because games can vary, players can pick an injury, I don't know. We need to be flexible on that and
06:45really think about that option.
06:49Hi, Ian. Hi, Ian. Thank you.
06:51Every chance by this time next week you could be a Premier League winner. What has this season pleased you
06:57the most about your team?
06:59Has it pleased you the most about what you've learned?
07:04Probably the capacity to adapt to very difficult and demanding circumstances and still perform and win the amount of games
07:14that we've done.
07:15In terms of the last two or three years, you've generally been a team trying to hunt down the team
07:22at the top of the table.
07:23For most of this year, you've been out in front with people snapping at your heels. How much has that
07:29been a different pressure for you?
07:31Maybe has it been a pressure you've enjoyed more, the fact that others have had to try and match you?
07:36The last few years they've been different. We think we've been in both positions. It's what it is.
07:42I think the fact that we've been at the top for a long time shows the level of consistency and
07:48how well the team has done to stay there in this league.
07:53But it's where we are now more than ever. Obviously, we want to finish in that position and that's what
08:01we're trying to do.
08:03Tom for London.
08:04Hi.
08:05Red Action have confirmed they're going to do another meet the coach event on Monday before the game, like we
08:09saw before the game against Atletico.
08:12What was that event like from your perspective inside that coach, seeing the fans, seeing the flares, the noise, everything
08:18that was there?
08:19I lost it. I think all the players that lost it, I think it built a certain energy connection with
08:26them that we haven't experienced before.
08:30The whole preparation and the whole atmosphere showed that the level of meaning was higher and the level of implication
08:40and desire and passion from our supporters was different as well.
08:44It really helps.
08:45Can you take us beyond the tinted glass of the coach as well? We can see the scenes on the
08:50outside, but did you see your players react in a different way?
08:53The players were in the other bus, but I could see straight away all the staff and everybody was there
08:59just looking at each other and I said,
09:01wow, we've taken this now to a different level and just looking, the engagement, the passion, the enthusiasm of our
09:09fans in their eyes,
09:10I think that was something special.
09:12James, your guess?
09:13Hi.
09:14Abigail, I'd like to take you back to just after the final, you said then it's a new season.
09:22Obviously, from the outside, it doesn't feel like that and you've had a rough run of form since then,
09:28you've won every game except one which is at the Metropole time. What changed? How did the atmosphere swing so
09:34shifted?
09:34Because you're talking now about a really good emotional state.
09:36Well, it was a reset moment. The performance certainly was there and I think we deserved much more than when
09:42we got out of the game.
09:43But we used that as fuel to be even more convinced and to understand, okay, what we've done up to
09:52now is fine,
09:52let's learn every bit of it and now let's use it for the last five games. That's what has remained
09:59and we have every chance to go and do it.
10:03Just wondering, how is he evolving? Because I think he was around the team for the game. How has he
10:09come on?
10:10He wanted to be very close to the team. He's progressed a little bit in the last few days, he's
10:16feeling better.
10:17We're going to try to get him fit and available as quick as possible, but let's see. Obviously, he's been
10:23out now for a while, unfortunately.
10:25He's such an important player for us, we all know that and he's doing everything that he possibly can to
10:31help the team in any capacity.
10:34And we know his leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him and he's trying everything that he
10:42can.
10:42And just on what you were talking about earlier in terms of the ability to adapt, is that something you've
10:47grown to understand more about yourself?
10:49Or is there something else that you've, you know, across this season really been able to...?
10:54That goes back to recruitment as well and with the necessities and the demands that the players have nowadays.
11:01We need players that are comfortable, able and they have the qualities to perform in different positions, otherwise it becomes
11:08really difficult.
11:09Especially when you get hit with injuries in the same positions for long periods of time.
11:15It would have been unsustainable. I mean, what the team has done in that sense, I think it's remarkable.
11:22On the right-back options, I think in the league phase against PSG last season, you played Calafuri there for
11:2845 minutes.
11:29How much is what he offers out-back transferable to the right?
11:33Well, I think the sample is so tiny, you know, so it's very difficult to judge a player when he
11:38had some low minutes.
11:41The same when we played a different player, Thomas Partey, we had some really good moments, some others when you
11:46don't win and it's because Thomas is playing as a full-back.
11:50Declan Rice when he played as a full-back against Brighton, it was exceptional.
11:55But then the other night it was something else. Depends, I mean, the sample is still so little.
12:00It will remain so little from here to the end of the season to judge whether that player is good
12:04enough or can perform the position.
12:08And what is the cost of moving that player from one position to the other? And that's the balance that
12:12we need to try to find.
12:13And some of the big calls I guess you've made recently with your gut in terms of throwing miles in
12:18or other players, those have paid off.
12:20Is that going to give you more confidence maybe taking the risk of someone else?
12:25I don't know if the work is risk. At the end we have to make a decision because the circumstances
12:29are required.
12:32With Malz it was a bit different, it was a choice because what we saw and what we believed that
12:38he could do and what the team was needing.
12:40And I think it's done really, really well.
12:42Nick at the back.
12:44Hi.
12:44I want to ask about how you handle the mentality of your squad coming to these recruiting games.
12:49There's a lovely video on YouTube of Malz being taught how to cook by his grandma every day.
12:54Just a reminder...
12:55How to cook?
12:56I haven't seen that video.
12:57Is he good or no?
12:59Well, it's his first time.
13:03That's a no.
13:05Just a reminder how young some of your players are.
13:08I just wonder whether you do them differently.
13:09Are you like a sort of father figure to the teenagers and the other players?
13:12Well, they have a great father and mother.
13:14I don't think they need a father but they have somebody that they can rely on whenever they need.
13:19And yeah, we are very aware that at 18 you are a kid but at 22, 23 you still have
13:26a lot to learn.
13:26At 28 as well, I'm 44 now and I still have a lot to learn and I need great people
13:32around me to give me advice and support.
13:34We all need that, they're all in different stages.
13:37The thing is how willing they are and how humble they are to try to learn and to be giving
13:44advice and support at the same time.
13:46That level between support and demands, I think that's where the sweetest spot is.
13:53Families are critical so I'm glad to hear that he's learning how to cook.
13:57Did you just treat everyone the same?
14:02Well, there are generic messages and generic demands to all of them but then the players are very specific.
14:09They are in a different moment as well, it's not just about the age of their nationality.
14:14It's what the player requires to perform at the highest level and that's what we have to try to provide.
14:25There is a chance but how big the chance is I cannot tell you, being completely honest.
14:34He's going to try to do everything he can to convert that chance as high as possible in the shortest
14:40possible period.
14:41And that's the challenge ahead.
14:51I feel that we have another opportunity on Monday to be a step closer and that's the only thing.
14:58Okay, I will go to Pablo from Spain.
15:00Hi, I'm Pablo.
15:04Hello.
15:05I was just wanting to ask you about the contribution of the Spanish coaches because you and Guardiola
15:11are fighting for the title and you are in the final, he's in the final.
15:16So, which is the contribution and also the influence of the Spanish coaches since Benito?
15:19Because the way of playing is changing with short passes and playing from behind.
15:26What do you think about it?
15:28I think the contribution comes first by the opportunity given by this country, this league
15:34to a lot of foreign managers to fulfil a dream and to give them the chance to do what they
15:40love the most
15:41in their best league in the world, in my opinion.
15:44And that's it.
15:46And then it's football and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
15:48But I think we are very grateful, especially the way we get treated here and the opportunity
15:54that we've been given.
15:54What makes you a difference?
15:58Because, I mean, many clubs are following the Spanish coaches.
16:04Luis Enrique is playing with you as well.
16:07So, what makes you so friendly?
16:09The players.
16:11Because they are the most important ones.
16:13The players are the ones that make the difference.
16:16I have no doubt about that.
16:18Okay, guys.
16:18That's finished.
16:19That's live.
16:19We're now going to 10.30.
16:20See you next week.
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