Romelu Lukaku had seven touches against Crystal Palace, are you bothered by that and if so, can you solve it?
"Ha, what can I do? I don't know. Well, now we have to deal with it, the data is out there and speaks a certain language.
"He was not involved in our game, it's sometimes like this with strikers. If they struggle a bit with self-confidence, if they struggle a little bit to find the space and to get involved against a defensive side, it can be like this.
"It's of course not what we want and not what Romelu wants, but it's also not the time to laugh about him, make jokes about him. He's in the spotlight of course, and we will protect him."
What is the latest team news ahead of the game with Lille?
"Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) looks much better than Callum (Hudson-Odoi). Let's start with these two. Callum did not train yesterday, Azpi trained and has no reaction, so if it stays like this, which it seems to be, then he's available for tomorrow.
"Mason (Mount) did a very good individual session, I think he will try to come back to team training today. He was out maybe a little bit too long to start. Perhaps he is involved in the squad, but he has not trained with the team yet.
And Reece (James) is still out, and Chilly (Ben Chilwell) out.
Thiago Silva continues to impress you, has anything changed in terms of what you ask and expect of him from when he was at PSG?
"Of course, the circumstances are different, it's a different club here. The rules and atmosphere are different, so that's normal.
There's a special atmosphere at every club, that was the case at Paris Saint-Germain and it's the same here at Chelsea. There's a winning mentality here about showing your strength and playing as a top team with experienced players.
"Thiago Silva was very brave to make the decision to join the Premier League at his age, with his status at Paris Saint-Germain and to completely change his life.
"He's been fantastic since he arrived; it's the same story now, it's a pleasure to be his coach because he sets an example every day, he's very humble and professional and he's an exceptional player.
We've had a back three in many games and he's excellent in the middle, he contributes so much with his experience. It's only a good thing because he's very reliable.
"He's the same person that he was, and I feel he was very brave to change his life towards the end of his career, that's very impressive."
It's a big week for you. What impact will the fact you have a cup final on the selection this week?
"Not so much at the moment, we don't manage too much. It's about, for us at the moment, to keep on going and find our rhythm where we struggle a bit. That is no secret.
"It's a bit strange to be very honest to have two Premier League matches in six weeks, it's really strange because it's always nicer and more familiar to sink into a competition and there are so many different levels of games now.
"If you look at the table, some teams have three matches more than another, so it's a bit strange to understand the situation in which we are in the Premier League.
"On the other hand, it's nice because it tells us we are still in a lot of competitions, which is our target, and it shows are competitive.
"We take it match-by-match more than ever before. We try to always do it like this but now is the moment to be super focused on every match, not worry about the big picture because that would make us look at a lot of different pictures and different environments.
"It's a huge difference between all these knockout matches, a semi-final in Abu Dhabi, a final in the Carabao Cup, a knockout in the FA Cup, it's a bit different.
"The Premier League is a marathon, it isn't about knockout matches, it's about consistency. So it changes a lot and we have to adapt because it's our schedule. But in terms of team management, we don't think ahead at the moment. We try to bring the best group tomorrow that suits best to what we want to implement on the pitch and then we will take care of Sunday's match."
Romelu Lukaku has played just three games with Ben Chilwell and four with Reece James this season because of injuries, so are you having to play in a different style to what you imagined or does he have to play in a different style?
"Maybe both things. Of course, every style changes with long-term injuries to key players. We played the majority of the games with a back three and wing-backs and two of the key wing-backs are Reece and Chilly, who got injured at their peak level.
"They had a huge impact on our game offensively and defensively – Regarding Romelu, offensively with their runs, speed, penetration, and deliveries.
"So, of course, this changes but we are not the only team where these players have the huge impact. In our system, the wing-backs are a crucial position to influence the game.
"Still, we can also play and win games without any player, this is our job and what we want to do. This is what we try honestly when we have injuries or corona cases. It's on us and me to adapt and find solutions. Romelu will always be part of the solution."
Do you think scrapping away goals changes the way teams play in the Champions League, and do you feel it perhaps suits you?
"I had the impression until now that it maybe gives a chance to be a bit more offensive because you can think about scoring and not be so afraid of conceding. So let's see. When we were asked at the UEFA meeting with the coaches, I was part of the majority of coaches who voted for this change of rule to make it clear, more understandable.
"I liked it [away goals] because it gave kind of an extra edge and you were doing mathematics during the game. I understood that and it was also exciting. But at the same time, I never fully understood why a 3-1 should be a better result than a 2-0. You can see both sides – maybe it was harder to score three and maybe it was a better result than a 2-0 or have a clean sheet in the second game.
"I like it and now it's clear. I think we may end up with more extra time and penalties because if you're even now you can't win by away goals. So let's see. We're aware of it but for us, it changes nothing in terms of our approach to the game tomorrow. We will try to keep a clean sheet, defend well, and attack as good as possible.
"If at all, maybe it changes our approach to the second leg a little that we don't have to think so much about what happens if we score a goal and how much they need. I think it's easier to adapt. Let's get the two games played, do the mathematics, count the goals together, and if it's not decided then we go to extra time."
How do you view Lille, who are having a tough season?
"Yes, they do struggle. There are reasons why they do. They had a fantastic coach and fantastic players. They were very, very competitive when I was in Paris. You could feel that it was a strong group, a strong squad, and a very emotional club.
"It was difficult to play at their stadium. The quality of the bond between the players and the coach was exceptional. You could feel that they have a chance to fight constantly for a place in the Champions League. Last season they became champions which is huge in France. From there, they lost players and the coach so there's a huge change.
"If the change is so big then there's a possibility that it takes some time to settle in. They lost another key player in Ikone in winter from their attacking formation. But still, we all know how physical French football is, the offensive players are physical and fast. They are very brave in one-on-one challenges. They are always a threat on counter-attacks and disciplined against the ball. They have the chance to play this game as underdogs and have the mentality with nothing to lose and they will take it from there.
"It is like this always that you respect the game and the opponent. We will prepare our team like we always do and hopefully find the best performance that we usually do in knockout and cup matches and play a competitive match tomorrow.
Are Lukaku's struggles part of a wider attacking issue, Timo Werner has also not scored regularly over the past year?
"Maybe, maybe. There's even a history of strikers struggling a little bit at Chelsea so it is not the easiest place for strikers. I don't know exactly why the strikers do but it is obviously like this.
"In my opinion, it is also considered that Chelsea is a strong defensive team, that is a physical team with a certain attitude and a grip on playing competitive football. We demand a lot from our strikers in terms of defending. We want to be a physical, hard-working group that's not shy to make it a physical game and not only a skillful game. That plays maybe a part.
"We have many games throughout our year together where we create many chances and struggle to convert them. Now, in the moment, there's a time when we struggle to create too many big chances for our strikers. I think this is a normal in a period of the season.
"We are aware of the subject and like always in football, it is not always just one reason to solve the problem. It is a very complex sport and we try to keep on playing with faith and belief in what we do with our team and make the effort. From there we go."
