Injury news?
Pretty much the same as we were against Salzburg. Mateo no problem with his calf, just more fatigue. Koulibaly, game came too soon, outside chance for Wednesday but not for tomorrow.
Is the return to Brighton special for you?
Yes, of course. A place I spent three very happy years. Looking forward to going back.
Didn't have a chance to say goodbye, does that make it extra special? What do you think the reception will be like?
These things happen in football. Sometimes life throws you opportunities and you have to take them or not. Timing wasn't great for anybody but sometimes that happens and it's about the decision. The decision to work here was too good to turn down. As for the crowd, what my expectations are, I don' really have any. Most people I've spoken to from Brighton have been very supportive and thankful but I'm not naive, I know that's not universal.
READ MORE: Graham Potter issues Mateo Kovacic boost but Chelsea dealt Kalidou Koulibaly injury blow
Have you seen the away dressing room at Brighton?
Yes, once. We played them behind closed doors in a friendly. I didn't go in when I was there for three years.
Could go 10 unbeaten, the first English Chelsea manager to achieve that...
I didn't know. It's nice but it's not something I'm focused on. I just want to prepare the team and play well and try and win the game against Brighton which will be tough enough. I don't worry about anything like that, I just focus on the game.
They've not won since you left, the footballing gods... their first win could be against their old boss?
Of course, they're capable of that. I think they've been unlucky. That's the only thing I can say, their performance have been good. A lot of positives there, there difference is, luck sometimes you need it. They haven't had too much from what I've seen. Performances have been good, they've got the capability, I know the quality of the team, so it's a tough game for us.
New technical director, a word on Laurence Stewart?
It's positive, it's good news. Obviously I've been focusing on the eight games we've played in October and the club are responsible for the appointment so I'm looking forward to working with him, I'm looking forward to supporting the role.
How much does it help you prepare for a game when you know the opponents so well?
It helps a little bit but I think Roberto has been in a few weeks now and you can see the ideas, you can see the differences, there's definitely change there I would say. While I know the players well, it's a new manager, new ideas, there's always something to learn, there's always something to surprise. That's football.
Which of your former players are you most wary of?
I wouldn't want to single anybody out. I think they're a really good team, they understand what they're doing, they understand each other, they understand the game, they understand space and now they're looking at implementing Roberto's ideas. I think they're doing well, apart from a little bit of luck I think they'd have more points, they've had some touch fixtures as well. Great bunch of lads, absolutely fantastic, top staff as well. I had a fantastic time there. I know the quality and I know how difficult the game is tomorrow.
You're yet to lose, Roberto is yet to win, who has more pressure?
I think it's similar. We all want to win the game. We all want to play to win. I think the difference is luck. We've won our games, when we've picked up points we've had a little bit of luck. When I look at Brighton they haven't had too much luck. As much as we want to say that we're these all-knowing, supreme, highly intelligent, fantastic coaches, you need some luck as well, that's for sure. Both of us under pressure to answer your question because it's Premier League match we both want to win and it's going to be a good game.
Chelsea the only team Brighton have never beaten, what are your memories?
They started off where we were getting beaten quite easily and in the end we were quite close. I think we drew the two games last season, we drew the one before as well. To start with there was a big gap and towards the end there as less of a gap.
You still live in Brighton, does that make tomorrow difficult with your neighbours?
No because I don't really socialise that much to be honest. I don't go out of my house, I just come here do my work and go home. By the time I'm home, I see my family. It's a boring life.
On the touchline, Robert de Zerbi got involved with an altercation with Thomas Frank, you're always calm and quiet, how do you maintain that?
I'm not always I would say. I've had my moments as well. I always say you've just got to be yourself, whatever that is and however you want to conduct yourself that's what you've got to do because there's no point being somebody else. You've got to be authentic to you, however that is, however that's helpful for you and the team, that's how you've got to be. I suppose years of training, years of going through step by step, starting off in Sweden to accumulating however many years of standing on the side and understanding myself. How am I feeling, how do I manage my emotions, how do I help the team? Getting angry is the easy bit, it's whether you can get angry at the right time, with the right person. That's something I've learned over a period of time. I'm certainly not perfect. Just because you quiet, or you're animated on the side doesn't mean anything really, it's how helpful you are to the team
Does getting angry with players help?
Sometimes, yeah, of course.
Raheem Sterling's goalscoring record, is it a concern for you and should England fans be concerned?
I would say no and no. Raheem's quality speaks for itself. Sometimes the team doesn't function as well and the forwards can suffer for that. Rather than zoom into the individual, I always say it's better for me to think about the team, how we can attack better, how we can create more space for Raheem, more chances. It's not just him, it's across the team we can do better.
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