Any injury updates?
No, we don't have players returning. Mason [Mount], Reece [James] and Chilly (Ben Chilwell) won't make the game. Benoit [Badiashile] we know is out, we're as we were. Joao [Felix], had a small injury at the weekend, he's back involved.
Does Mount feel like a lost cause, has he played his last game?
A lost cause? I don't know. That's not my answer to make. That's between Mason and the club.
READ MORE: The truth behind Chelsea's Jules Kounde transfer plan as Barcelona defender 'asks to leave'
How much are you relishing the test posed by a Manchester United team still needing a point to qualify for the Champions League?
It's a similar situation to aproaching Manchester City, albeit they won the league the night before but they're a high-level team who are in a positive way. It's the same point from how I approached going into City, and how the players approach it more importantly. In terms of we haven't got much on the game and the players have shown that there is in terms of their personal and collective approach to it. Obviously we have to go there with a very good mentality because they're a good team fighting for something that we've fought for many years and now we're not in the position, so, the players need to show.
Raheem Sterling to be left out of England squad, a setback or a chance to switch off and go again for September internationals?
I don't know the exact details of the conversation between Raheem and Gareth [Southgate] and where that is at all. All I do know is that Raheem is a top-level player that has played for England for a lot of time. From my personal memories of playing for England for many years, I know sometimes these games at the end of the season are different challenges compared to individuals who have played a lot of games, a lot of minutes. So if there's a mutual conversation between the two of them then I'm sure they will find the right outcome - best for England, best for Raheem.
Why has this season been so disappointing?
I think there's probably a lot to go over to get to the bottom of it because for a club like us that generally has been challenging at the top end of the league, cups, year after year for many years. There have probably been a couple of years where we've come off it at different times. When you are used to that you have to explore every reason and ensure that you don't let those reasons happen again. Some of that in terms of the football and squad is personal, collective responsibility in terms of what happens on the pitch. We have to look at every issue, or the club does, to try and be sure that doesn't happen going forward.
Feeling outside of the club is next season Chelsea and Liverpool will wake up, is that how you see it?
I don't know that because the Premier League moves on very fast, everyone is moving on and trying to do the same thing and you see the emergence of Newcastle, Brighton and Aston Villa and these teams that are getting themselves in that equation now. My experience of football is that if you switch it off, it's not easy to switch it on. It doesn't always become an overnight remedy. It's not going to be my responsibility but from my experience of being in a consistent performing club for many years, the moments you do switch off become very hard to switch it on. That will be the test next year.
Players don't always know when it's time to say goodbye, you didn't get that chance, have players had the conversations to get that chance?
Not that I'm aware of and I think I would be aware of that. That would be a conversation between club and player. I had the conversation when I was here but it was after the last game of the season at home. It was a different situation. As far as we stand here now players contracted to the club, who knows what the future lies individually, collectively for everyone but at this moment I'm not aware of that.
11/20 clubs have changed managers. Is this the most uncertain that football management has been in terms of if not getting things right in months you are out of a job?
Yes... I think the stat that you reeled off says it. Is it a record? I presume it is a record. There are understandable factors to it in terms of the brand of the Premier League and what it means for teams to stay there. I don't think it's viewed that differently now if the first person who receives the blame is the coach. If you understand it when you go into these jobs, it's probably a good thing to understand it but of course there a lots of other factors. I'm not talking about my own position, I'm talking about all of these managers. Anyone that has success will all get used to change and those things. It's clear that it's become that kind of a job and situation and there are many teams that are possibly fighting with expectations that might not be stable. That bit is hard. We are in a very reactionary world anyway. In years gone by the reaction to one, two, three defeats will have been different. Now, we have this explosion very quickly and I think you just have to understand that when you're doing this job.
What is the timeframe on Badiashile's injury and how big of a blow for him?
It's a big blow for him. I'm really disappointed for him. He's come here and he's impressed. In the games just before he got injured, I was really happy with him. I think he's going to be a really good player for the club. The injury is unfortunate. It's a bit of a complicated injury in his hamstring. We're probably talking months rather than weeks, unfortunately. That's all I'll say at the minute. It's a little bit complicated. But hopefully for him, the time of it being over the summer means he's not missing games and he comes back stronger.
You've alternated goalkeepers, are you looking to make more rotation in the next couple of games?
We'll see. I don't think any other manager, regardless of what is on the game is going to declare their team so we'll see.
What do you want to see against Manchester United?
The usual requirements and the basics which I've spoken about a lot since I've been here. They're not easy to switch on, you have to train and prepare and it has to be like a standard set. Unfortunately we've not met that standard regularly enough. In my time here, one thing I can say is that I've seen some reasons why. In the short term, the two games that are left in three days the players have to reach the standard and level of performance, I think we did at Manchester City. Not easy for the players to approach that game because of what was going on at their end. I thought we deserved more out of the game, the performance had lots to improve but the attitude and the application and all of the basics were good. That's what I expect to see in the last two.
How have Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart been to work with?
The dialogue has been really good. From the moment this opportunity came up for me I've had really good dialogue. I've been able to get on well with them on a personal and professional level and it's nice to have that communication. It's something when you work in this job, you understand when you don't have that feeling of close communication on the footballing side, you miss it. With Paul and Laurence I've had that in their own way. That's been a good thing and I appreciate that. Obviously they have a big job, they want to bring Chelsea back to where we want to get it to. The responsibility isn't all theirs but they play an important role. I've been impressed by how our interactions have been. I wish them well going forward off the back of this period for me and how they work and operate going forward.
Do you think Chelsea have the structure above the head coach to build the club back up to the level it was?
Yeah. I think so. When you look at the good models around that have consistency in those areas and decision-making and how the club moves forward, they're generally more succesful clubs. We talk a lot about the Brightons and the Brentfords now, Newcastle, Manchester City, all in different ways but I think there's a real alignment of thinking through the club. Where we are at the minute, that will be the work process to try and see where are we aligned, where do we want to get to and what does it look like. There's a lot of work in that. I think Paul and Laurence have good people in there to do that. Being connected is a big deal and it's hard in the modern well because everything is very reactionary. If you want to go in a certain direction and you don't get any joy for a while then of course people will react to that. This could be for Chelsea, a longer picture than that to try and get a process. Chelsea have to get that right their end but people need to stick with that along the way.
READ NEXT:
Chelsea contact made over mega money transfer to repeat Cristiano Ronaldo deal
Mauricio Pochettino may be handed 'sensationally good' £130m transfer to kickstart Chelsea reign
Chelsea and Tottenham handed brutal West Ham lesson ahead of pivotal Premier League summer
Man Utd ready Mason Mount bid as Liverpool and Arsenal face transfer battle for £85m Chelsea man
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates from Stamford Bridge
