Team news, Frank. Ben Chilwell?
Not fit. No we are hoping that Chilly may be fit possibly for the last game or two of the season but that is a tight call. It's a similar story with Mason Mount, maybe a little bit similar with Reece [James] but I feel that Reece might be slightly behind that. So we are obviously chasing it about now.
Another setback then for Ben. It gets frustrating doesn't it for him particularly?
Yeah I feel for him. All the players want to play and represent the club and obviously we miss big players. Reece and Mason and Chilly are big England internationals, are successful with the club and I've not really had the benefit of them in the short period. Chilly I suppose a little bit but Mason hasn't really contributed at his top level where he has been fully fit but it is what it is.
Wesley Fofana? Better news?
Yes Wes has been training this week so he is good.
Marc Cucurella?
No he won't be fit for this game and again probably questionable in line with the others for that final week of the season.
Koulibaly?
He has trained with us the last couple of days. A little bit managed, not full training so again we are looking at the next week where we have three games in six days or whatever so all of those, hopefully in a bit of contentions but of course will they be match fit is the other question.
On N'Golo Kante he seemed to indicate in an interview with Sky Sports News yesterday that he will be willing and happy to sign a new deal here. Is that your understanding and how important is he? OK he has had injury problems and he is not as young as he was but he is still a top quality player.
I've got no understanding as to N'Golo speaking. I don't know about the situation. He's obviously a very, very high level player I've said that many times.
Working with him again he still has lots to offer?
Absolutely. Every game he has played for us in this short period is similar to N'Golo at his level and he has been a huge asset for the club we know that.
Training on the back of a win. Slightly different feeling?
It's a boost. It's a nice feeling. The players have to strive for that feeling again. That's what builds winning teams and at the moment we are obviously in some form of a building process because of the difficulty of the season so it was a small step forward.
You said before about playing for pride, playing for the badge. Obviously there isn't really anything in terms of the position in the league to play for but there's integrity isn't there because you're going to have a big say as a team in all areas of the league. Is that something you talk to your players about?
No, not in that context. Just that we play for pride in every game, no matter what the consequences are for anybody else. It's our consequence that we are concerned about.
You kept Everton up last season and you can contribute to that again by beating Forest, can't you?
Maybe but Everton's fate is in their own hands at this point I think. It's not in my concerns really. I lived that life last year and have a lot of connection to the club in the year that I had there was a really enjoyable time for me. But you know as much as I will support them from afar it's not in my concern as Chelsea manager but of course I hope they get the job done because I know what that feeling is.
Any manager update?
No.
Charlie Holland has been a bit of a internet sensation this week. It's not unusual to bring the youngsters in as a bit of a reward and get some experience of the top level.
It was a day where our U21s and U18s had stopped training, they had broken up already. Charlie is the captain of the U14s and had a very successful season and he came over and took part in the warm up and the boxes and then the internet did the rest and made it more of a story. It's nice to have a link to the academy and it's important for young players to have the feeling that if they do well they can have small inputs but with Charlie that was the situation. Another day it may be another player who can come in and get that valuable experience in a small way and we hope that obviously can invigorate the young players knowing those things are possible.
You said there was a change in the mood this week. Is it as simple as that at this point? A win changes the mood?
I think in football it can be but you also can't get carried away with a win because as much as I sometimes look at a defeat and see positives I can look at a win and see a lot of things that we need to improve. It's nice for that general feel of confidence within the building but in terms of where we want to be it is a small step. I said it after the game so it's just nice it's something that has to be carried on with and just by celebrating it all week is not going to be the answer. Another game comes in the Premier League with a team fighting for their Premier League lives and we have to match that intensity and desire because those are the rules in the Premier League.
Now you have had some time to reflect on the win, was there anything you can pinpoint from the performance that maybe was missing before?
No I think it is hard to directly compare performances. I think simple form of football is when you take chances you can win games and a lot of other stuff can be glossed over for good or for bad. So in this game we score from a set piece, which is something we haven't been doing enough this season. We were also clinical in the third goal which kills off the game and if you look at certain games we have played in my time and I won't speak for before too much but we have opportunities to be clinical at that end of the pitch and if you can't do that then it is very hard to get into the top part, top eight, top six, top four if you don't have a real clinical edge at the top end of the pitch. You can't conjure that up in a short period it has to be developed, worked on, recruited - all those things. But we were more clinical, I thought the performance was good but it is not exactly where we want to be. In this period for me it won't be a question of trying to take us exactly where I want to be because the time isn't there but it was a nice step.
Forest won the other day and they are still very much in the relegation battle. What kind of test do you think it is to play against a team that is fighting for their lives?
A really big one. Like they have given big teams recently in Liverpool and Manchester United and winning against Southampton and beating a team at the level of Brighton. You have to give them complete respect. They have a strong squad, strong coach, effective way of playing. I think they have not changed but they have evolved through the season. in terms of their style which is very effective. A lot of speed on the counter attack, very threatening in terms of set pieces and some of the more direct stuff which is fair play because they are fighting for everything.
Home form hasn't been as good as I'm sure you would have wanted it to be in the last few matches. The game is at home tomorrow, is that starting to weigh a little heavy on the players?
I think if form has not been great and it's probably since I've been here and preceding that, it's very normal and human that can build up some nervousness amongst players and fans. The only way through that is to dig in and try and do the right thing. I've been there as a player many a time and that is what the players have to do simple as that and then the crowd will go with them and then with that you can become a bit of a force and we are obviously striving for that.
Can you talk about Lewis Hall? Has he got a chance of starting given the injury issues?
Yeah. Lewis has a chance. Tempted to put him on last week is the word I would say but I think with the nature of the game I felt the experience of Azpi in the game was more suitable at that point. I'll view this game on its merits as well but I think in terms of Lewis I've been really impressed with his training. He's a very good player, really talented player and I think if anything there is one thing he needs to come out of himself that bit more because he really should trust how good he is and feel at home with the group. I think he does feel that and games I've watched him afar - I didn't get to work with Lewis before I was a bit younger - so I've been watching him from afar and been really impressed and he hasn't dampened that at all. He is in the running for the last four games to be involved.
There was talk he was called up for the England U20 World Cup squad. Was it Chelsea's decision or his decision (to not go)?
It's my decision that he needs to stay with us for the four games. Obviously we've got injuries at both our left-backs who have been playing regularly this season and that leaves us in a position where we want and need Lewis.
Thoughts on the timing of the tournament?
Yeah it feels a mystery to me. I will be careful with it because I didn't really think about the tournament a month or so ago, probably because I've come here and then all of a sudden the question is there of young players leaving at the most crucial part of the season. There you can see what it means for us with Lewis and Carney (Chukwuemeka) and there will be other clubs in the league, players who are playing regularly... it just doesn't make sense in terms of clashing with the end of our season but that is all I know about it. But from our point of view having the power of being able to keep our player is an important thing and maybe that probably then jeopardises the World Cup itself and that is why they should look at it because they would want the best players there and from our point of view we need our best players in this moment.
How did Lewis take it?
He takes most things the same, quite straight-faced. He would have wanted to play for his country and be honoured to represent so obviously that is a good thing, maybe normal but that is a good thing. But also he has come through this academy and will be desperate for opportunity and I think that is what I sense from him so I think he did it right on both sides. He would have been happy to go and now he is happy to hopefully get some opportunity in these last games.
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