Chelsea have completed the loan signing of Joao Felix, what are your expectations for him?
“He's a quality player, can make a difference in the final third of the pitch, young but has obviously had a lot of really good experience. He's a quality player that gives everyone a lift.”
Is this a deal that came out of the blue or one the club have been working on?
“No, we’ve been aware of it a while. These things don’t happen quickly. Obviously, the injuries have maybe sharpened the focus a little bit but it’s nice to get him in and training today. That is positive for us. We’ll see for the game tomorrow.”
READ MORE Chelsea complete Joao Felix loan deal signing from Atletico Madrid
He was registered for the game?
“We’re still waiting for that, still waiting for the confirmation he can play. But he was around today.”
Why hasn’t it worked out for him at Atletico?
“I’ve no idea and it’s not for me to speculate. Sometimes these things happen in football but for us, he’s a good age, the quality is there, he’s a fantastic player. He has qualities as player as a second striker between the lines and making something happen in the final third. We’re looking forward to working with him.”
Is there more to come in the January window?
“There is time, whether we’ll find the right players or not is another thing. As I’ve said before, you have to look in this window to make the right decisions but it isn’t straightforward. It’s complicated. We’re happy with what we’ve done so far but we’ll keep going to try to help the team.”
Do you have an update on team news? Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?
“Pierre is fine and he’ll be in the squad for the game. Christian is a couple of months we think, hopefully, less, but that’s the timeframe. Raheem less but we’re still evaluating the extent of it. Hopefully less than that, though.”
Are there any players you can welcome back tomorrow?
“They’re making progress. Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] is getting closer, Ben [Chilwell] is getting closer. Reece [James] was out on the grass today, not training with the team but on his own. N’Golo did his first couple of days out training on his own but there is still a long, long way to go. But it felt more positive. To see the guys out there, it gives everyone a lift.”
Do you feel under pressure, maybe the most pressure you’ve had in management so far?
“You always feel pressure and the higher you go the more pressure and noise there is from the outside. At a club like Chelsea, with the responsibility, the history, the tradition, the demands when you don’t get the results you went, then of course there is noise and criticism. It’s everything you expect, but you have to put it into perspective, keep going with the job, try to improve, stay strong and get through.”
Looking back on the performance in the Premier League against Man City, how encouraging was that?
“It was a positive performance overall. We were pleased with lots of things we did. After the game, it wasn’t easy to recover from the two key players we lost [to injury] but the players did it in a good way. Manchester City are a top opponent but having said that, we matched them and it was an even game at Stamford Bridge. So there were positives to take.”:
How impressed have you been with Fulham this season?
“He’s done a fantastic job. Promotion and they’ve had the belief to build on that. They’re really well organised in and out of possession, know exactly what they’re doing, and they are a tough team to play. They’re doing a fantastic job.”
Do you expect Fulham to play with a lot of courage at home tomorrow?
“They'll play with courage, personality. The points they have are not an accident, they’ve earned them and deserve them. They're up there on merit and they’ve got the points on merit. It’s a tough game, a London derby, and we're looking forward to it.”
How do you handle the criticism that you’ve received?
“You have to understand that it’s part of the job. I think you only have to look at some of my colleagues in a similar position, Pep [Guardiola] for example in his first season was criticised quite heavily. Mikel [Arteta] has had to endure a period of criticism. Jurgen Klopp would’ve got some criticism as well and these guys are fantastic. So you understand. Football is emotional and when you lose, you don’t think about it, you feel it. You feel the pain, the suffering, the discomfort.
"Sometimes it is hard to understand the why and it’s easier to just blame somebody. I’m not sitting here saying I’ve been absolutely perfect, so they’re not completely wrong. But it’s always very complex. You just try to put it into perspective and remember you’re capable and how you got here.
"Two months ago, I was considered to be a top coach and if you consider the people I’ve played against and with, they’d say the same. But at the same time I acknowledge the results haven’t been good enough and then you have to accept and deal with that as best you can, put it in perspective, and try to move forward.”
Have you spoken to the owners and what have they said to you?
“I’ve been in regular dialogue with the owners and they’ve been really supportive, fantastic. We speak on a regular basis, two or three times a week, and they’ve been really supportive.”
Is one of your big challenges trying to lift the players because I suspect a lack of confidence is an issue?
“It wasn’t so long ago that we played well against Bournemouth. We played a good game against Manchester City [at home] but the second game at the Etihad, given the form we’re in, isn’t the best fixture you could ask for that’s for sure. We’re not in a top, top moment but these guys are experienced honest, and they’ve been fantastic to work with throughout. They’re hurting just like everyone else so we have to take our responsibility, do our best, and get the three points.”
It’s not going to be a quick fix getting Chelsea back to where they were, but how much time do you think you’ll need?
“It’s not like I can give you a timeframe, that would be strange if I had the intelligence to see ahead of time like that. At the moment, if you look at where we’re at in terms of the players that are unavailable, it can skew the picture a little bit. If we had those guys back, the picture changes. I really believe that.
"I don’t think we’re as far away as we may think from the outside but at the same time, we have to keep going from window to window to improve the squad, improve the culture, develop the football idea, and keep moving forward. As much as these periods are not nice – and they’re not – you have to use them as a way to be stronger. At the time it isn’t pleasant though.”
Do you feel top four is still the objective?
“That’s always an aim. We've still got a lot of points to play for but I would be wasting my time if I was worrying about what we’re going to do in five months’ time. I’ve got to focus on the next day’s training and the next match. We can improve a lot and be a lot more positive quickly with results, with improved performances, and the picture can change quickly. But at the moment we are suffering and have to accept that and work through it.”
Where do you see Joao Felix fitting into the starting XI, can he fix the goalscoring problem?
“My thoughts are that you have to fix the team. It’s not just one person to solve the problems. You have to fix the team, attack better, create chances, and then whoever is playing then can score and the team can win. That is the focus. Clearly, though, Joao is a top player, a talented player, and he can help the team.”
How confident are you that Joao Felix can have an immediate impact in a new team and league?
“He's been training regularly and had game time, so from a physical perspective he can go in. It's always a bit of an unknown going from one country to another and there is always an adaptation period, but how long that takes goes from player to player.
"I see a confident person, a confident player, a player that can impose himself on the game. His personality and attributes are that he can take the ball in tight spaces, make the difference in the final third, and play passes. I think he compliments what we have as well so I’m looking forward to working with him.”
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