Can you give us your version of events after that final whistle?
I think that it's not so important. It's not so important. The most important thing is always football and to speak about the game. It was an intensive game. For us this game was really tough but you know very well that to come here and to play Chelsea away it is always difficult. They have a really good team.
But at the same time if I have to compare last season and maybe six months ago, we played three games without playing because the superiority was really clear. Today I have to be honest, because today in this game Chelsea showed to be better than us. We can do better, but at the same time we scored twice.
In the last three games we didn't score. We got a point and we showed in my opinion character and personality because my players wanted to stay in the game until the end, but for sure my players know very well what is my idea. We have to continue to work and improve because I think with the ball we could do better.
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Both coaches were shown a red card, do you believe you did anything to deserve a red card?
But honestly the referee showed me a red card but he didn't understand the dynamic of what happened, but it's ok I have to accept, but I repeat this is not a big problem. It's not important. The problem is between me and the other coach, not for the others.
Was Thomas Tuchel the aggressor at full time?
But honestly I don't want to come back again but for sure there is a video to understand what happened. For sure I am not passive. If I see aggressivity, then my answer is with aggressivity but I repeat this is not a problem. The most important thing is the game was a great game with two teams where there is a big rivalry. For us to get a point was really important. In my opinion they continue to stay up on us but before the press conference I say this season we are better than last season and I think we show this only in the difficulty that we are a tough opponent for many reasons.
He complained about the referee, what did you make of him?
You know very well I never, never spoke about the referee decision. Never, never and I continue to do this. When I see the others have this type of behaviour, it makes me a bit angry but at the same time everyone tries to do what they want, you understand? I don't want to comment on the referee but I never make a comment about the referee in England.
Can you tell us about your celebration because it seemed to upset Tuchel?
I think the celebrations involved on both sides were really good celebrations, yes. The run, then the jump and you can understand about these celebrations because the feeling about us and Chelsea for this game. I think this game is an important game for both clubs. For sure for me it was important because to lose three games in a row against the same coach I don't like. I hate to lose and you know very well I try to transfer my mentality and my passion into my players because you can be good tactically, technically but then you need good blood in your vein to fight for something important. I think we have started a process in this aspect and today I am happy because my players wanted to stay in the game despite the difficulty of the game.
Are the players now showing the same passion as you, and do you like that?
Yeah, but you have to show every time passion because the result can be positive or negative but I think the passion is very important. In every job that people do. You have to love your job, you have to love your work and to show the passion. If the people understand this and the fans see this it's good, it's good. And you can take big achievement if you have big passion in your job.
Thomas said he enjoyed the handshake. Do you enjoy those moments?
To enjoy I think that what happened we did enjoy but next time we will pay more attention and don't shake the hands and we solve the problem. He stays in my bench, I stay in my bench, with my staff on one side and no problem about this. It would be a pity if for this situation we miss the next game.
Can you tell us what happened with the Kovacic confrontation at the end before you went in the tunnel?
No, I think this is not important. It can happen when passion is high on both sides. The celebration was very clear, what this game means for the two clubs. Maybe also for the two managers.
You switched to a 4-2-4 at the end, does that suggests you have another plan for matches?
Yes, but we have to work. We have to work on this system because the second goal we conceded was because defensively we were very poor. Very poor. If we stayed with three centre backs for sure we wouldn't concede this goal. But this could be a good option for us because we have Richarlison and Harry. Sonny can also be a striker and we have wingers like Sonny, Deki. Also Ivan Perisic and Lucas Moura. And two midfielders. Yeah, we can switch sometimes to play in this new formation but for sure we need to work and have the same knowledge that we have in 3-4-2-1.
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