What's your reaction to the Champions League draw against Real Madrid?
"Tough one. The challenge cannot be much higher than playing the second leg in Bernabeu with spectators [as things stand]. It's a big challenge, but it's also a big excitement around this match, around this fixture. So we know what's coming and it will be an exciting match and a tough challenge."
Was it important to avoid English clubs?
"Not important, but it's always nice because it's European nights, and it's always nice to play European teams and maybe not at this kind of stage the teams you play already so many times in domestic competition."
As things stand, you wouldn't have fans at either leg, would that be a disadvantage?
"It would be a disadvantage. But listen, in general this game is for the spectators, the game changes so much with spectators. So hopefully we'll find solutions. I'm pretty sure everybody at the club and the board will fight for a chance.
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"I don't know how big the possibility is, but the games are for the spectators and especially these games. It's a different game when the crowds are in the stadium. Hopefully we can make it happen somehow."
What's the latest team news about of tomorrow's FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough?
"We have Reece (James), Callum (Hudson-Odoi) and Andreas Christensen uncertain. They are in training but not yet in full training yesterday. So let's see, still some checks to do. It can be a very tight race. Maybe it's a bit too close."
Do you expect a hostile reception at Middlesbrough after the events of the past week?
"Well, I expect an FA Cup atmosphere, and I don't think there's any need for anything more hostile and I don't think these are the words we should use in football and especially not in these times. Football is the opposite of war, football is about the love of game, passion, respecting your opponent, and supporting your own team.
"This is what we expect; an emotional stadium, emotional crowd. We love the competition, I love the FA Cup, so we expect a tough away match against a strong team. And not more than that. But this is what we expect, and it will be a challenge for us."
Are you travelling by plane?
"Yeah, actually everybody worked hard to make it happen and it has gone through. So it's organised we can travel by plane which is very, very good because as you know we have the last match and there's only two days in between rest and it's very important to minimise travel and maximise recovery to reduce the risk of injury. So everything's organised as usual and we can prepare normally."
There have been reports linking you to the Manchester United job, what's your reaction?
"There's actually no reaction at all because do you feel me less committed to the club or less involved in the club in my situation? Absolutely not. I've said many times that I love to be here, that I love to work for Chelsea and that this club has everything what it needs to make me happy. That's why there's no need. And we have plenty of reasons to stay in the moment here, and this is what we do."
Are supporters required at matches for sporting integrity?
"Well, there are sanctions [against Chelsea] for a certain reason, and we have also to respect this. So I don't think it makes much sense that I should out that we have to protect the integrity of the competition, and make a huge point out of it.
"We have also sanctions that we have to follow, like it or not, and now I have trust in the board who are in dialogue with UEFA and dialogue with the Government here to find maybe exemptions, and maybe logic exemptions, to find solutions that spectators can be in the stadium.
"Of course, we can see the point that it should not maybe be put on spectators not to attend matches like this, the sanctions, but it needs to be in the regulations, and I'm sure that the board are trying hard to find solutions for the situation. We also have to respect that we are in this situation and have to adapt to whatever comes."
Are you surprised Reece James has been called up by England given he is currently injured?
"Yes and no. I would also always call Reece up no matter what if I was the head coach of England. That's why I'm not surprised that at the moment he's there. Yesterday, he was not match-ready, let's see what happens tomorrow.
But he comes now from altogether nine weeks of injury and we have to do late tests and see if he is even able to do the full team training and the full test to be match ready tomorrow, which is a big doubt. If this is not the case, it makes no sense that he will go."
Should there be fan representation on the board?
"For every situation and for every structure, there's pros and cons and actually I don't want to get too much involved in this. There's a sale of the club, we hope we will find a new owner soon, because this will calm the situation down, this will give us clarity and clarity is always good.
"Let's see what the concept is. The situation in Germany, some of them have good experiences, some of them don't have such good experiences, but this is for any concept and for every possibility to run a club there are pros and cons. It's not on me to decide and judge."
Have you been across who is trying to buy the club?
"I am absolutely not involved. Zero. I am informed from time to time but as you know, we have a pretty tight schedule. So I am happy not to be involved in every little step and every little change in the process. It gives me the advantage to focus on football, the staff here, the environment I can influence – the 80 people here at Cobham. So I am quite happy about it. Of course, I am informed but I am not asked and it's not necessary. It's not my job. It's not my role."
These situations can take perhaps longer than you want?
"Yes, but I think there is pressure on the timeline. I think everybody works hard to adapt to the situation so we don't have much time. Everybody hopes [the sale is done sooner rather than later]. Everybody does. As I understand, we can trust this is maybe solved quicker than normal and usual."
You've won all your Premier League games and handled a difficult situation superbly, should we just name you the manager of the month now?
"It's nice of you but I'm always a bit careful when I get so many flowers from you guys. It makes me think there is something around the corner or behind the door. Let's keep it low. I do my best and I feel the support here at the club from day one that makes me feel safe. I do my best to play my role and push things forward. But thanks."
Did you ever expect to stay at Chelsea longer than the owner?
"No, absolutely not. I could not have imagined that. That was out of any range of possibilities. That is why it makes you aware that you can't plan your life. It will always catch up with you, reality will always catch up with you and put your plans to bed. We have to make new plans and it makes you aware you have to live in the moment and enjoy the moment.
"This is what I've done from the very beginning [at Chelsea] because it was so short notice. The next day [after taking the job] there was a match. Three days later there was a match. It was lockdown because of Covid, travel restrictions, so I was more or less living in a hotel with my three friends and staff members.
"We were living life on a daily basis and it was pretty enjoyable. Now again in completely different circumstances. That's what we do and, as I said, it shows you don't plan too far ahead and enjoy the moment. Be the best you can be in the present and right now. This is what we try."
What attributes would you like from your next boss?
"I am an employee and I am ready to play my role and ready to adapt. Let's see what's coming. It's uncertain times and uncertainty can create for some people fear or certain feelings. This is normal. But we can also trust in what we have in the culture of the club, what we have at Cobham in the quality of the staff and the group.
"So, we can trust in that and trust for a good outcome. This is what we do. We stay positive and hopefully, it will come like this. But it doesn't make much sense to reflect on the role and how it might change under a new owner. The new owner is not here and the ideas are not set out. We don't know what's coming. So let's cross the river when we're at the bridge and right now, we're not at the bridge."
What would you like from an owner?
"Hopefully, they love winning! That would be a big plus."
You had a big reaction with the fans to winning at Lille. Was that game extra special for you
"Yes, it was a very special moment because there were so many supporters there. There were discussions about whether they were allowed or not and then they are there. They take the travel and they see us in the fighting spirit even though we didn’t play our most beautiful game. We found a way to win and transfer the energy in the stands.
"When I came out for my interview they were still there so at this moment it was very special, actually. But I am not judging the games over other games or the results or feelings. But, in the moment it felt very, very good because if you sign for Chelsea, work for Chelsea, I myself demand to finish in the top four and be in the quarter-final.
"I know how hard it is. I know other people say how can he be happy with top four? But this is super competitive to get to the top four and quarter-final. To do this tells you that you are on the right track, from here you go and from here we compete for more. But it is kind of a milestone every season.
"That’s why I felt this kind of relief. I was very happy for the players, the music was on in the dressing room and we had this feeling for taking this little milestone in the season.
Has anyone senior spoken to the group about the ownership situation?
"The whole group? No. But me personally? Yes. The whole group is more or less always addressed by me or Petr (Cech) about the situations. Marina joined us in our travel to Lille which was very nice, which shows you we are together on this. We have trust in each other.
"I think it is about the little things now. To do the little things right and that gives you trust and stability. It makes you look forward and you can see it works. Less is more in this situation to not come in every day with a new turnaround or a new change of events. Here we come and if we have something to announce, it is normally through me or Petr and that’s the way it is."
"The message now is it is about working on a daily basis. That’s more or less the message. It is the message that the players see and feel, that we still manage to keep the routine for today on matchday minus one as normal as possible. They will not feel a difference today and that’s the important sign.
"The travel routine is normal and they will not feel the difference today. You can’t say nothing will change and then you have to drive six hours on a bus instead and suddenly everything has changed. It stops involving the players too much in what is going on. We take responsibility with the organisation team and the board to work hard on the things to make it as comfortable as normal for the players so they can stay in their process of staying focus on the match by staying in their routine."
Is there any concern your summer transfer window could be impacted, that other clubs are getting ahead of you?
"You can see it that way. But I don’t focus on the problems so much. Maybe it will happen that a player decides something that he wouldn’t decide if the situation is different. Maybe. But there are so many ifs. If it comes to this, we will find a solution.
"I still believe Chelsea will stay strong. Stay a football-first club. I have trust and I believe in our ability to adapt. We will find solutions once the situation is clear for us to act again."
