This felt like a game that emotion could've got the best of your players, but it didn't. How do you feel about the performance?
"Super happy because we were very focused and there was a lot of effort against the ball. We didn't allow big chances and were very disciplined against the ball and we put in a huge effort. We defended as a team and attacked as a team. On the ball, we were calm and controlled the match. We managed to find the gaps to escape the high pressing line, to find the spaces, and to create fast attacks.
"We controlled the match and in the decisive moments scored. We created more chances. So I am very happy and very impressed because it was another and focused performance. It was a deserved win."
No Kepa today and Jorginho wasn't in the squad either?
"Kepa is ill and we gave Jorgi the chance to have a pause. He has played six games in a row, 90 minutes, and has two crucial games with Italy, both physically and mentally. I decided that he could have a break and didn't need the travel today."
I'm sure the Italians will be happy with you for that...
"Yeah, they owe me a big one! I will come back on this."
Have your players surprised you in recent games with their performances amid the uncertainty?
"No, they have impressed me. Not surprised me. At one point, we needed to accept we didn't cause the situation, we can't influence the situation, and we can't change the situation no matter what we do or how much we talk about it. We had to find a certain level of accepting the situation and refocusing on what we can influence. That is our performance.
"The good thing is from day one I found a very ambitious club and a huge staff that is determined to push the players to the maximum level of performance. This includes focus, respectful behaviour, includes an attitude of a team spirit that is needed. These are the things that we rely on now and trust. It's impressive because they do exactly this and we try to support them to keep on going."
It's crisis management though, isn't it? And how are you coping?
"I am absolutely ok. I still feel very privileged and even as a turnaround, I feel a responsibility because there are people who are worried who are not in the spotlight or as privileged as me., my players and staff are privileged but we are concerned. There are 700/800 people working at Chelsea and are worrying more, maybe existentially worried about what will happen and asking if they can stay at the club and what will happen at the club.
"For them, it's also my responsibility and everyone's responsibility to show the right spirit, positivity, and not go into self-pity and worry about a situation we didn't cause and can't change. So it is still a pleasure and I am very gifted to go to training and do what we do in an environment that is so supportive. That is my feeling about it."
Before the game, we spoke to supporters who said they were anxious. Is it important for you to show this positive attitude?
"Yes, they showed a very impressive attitude and spirit. This is exactly what we want and demand. I demand it from myself and in the consequence and in the last consequence for the players. They have huge talent and with huge talent comes huge responsibility.
"And now, they do it also for the fans and the people at Chelsea who are not in the spotlight. They do it also for themselves. They do it as a team because this is what they signed up for. They are a special group of players, in a very special and ambitious club. This is sometimes what life demands from you and that’s special things."
You drew a lot of games earlier in the season – Burnley, Everton, Wolves – and now you won 12 in 13 games. So what’s going right now?
"I think in those games you describe, we lacked luck, honestly. In the last 12 or so matches it wasn’t always super impressive performances, sometimes were also lucky to escape. For example, the away game at Crystal Palace was not the best game from us and we scored in the last minute.
"In that period you mention, where the gap opened up between Liverpool and Man City with us, there were injuries and unfortunately we struggled with corona. We arrived at a time with 14 players at Wolves after coronavirus. There was this time that hit us hard when players had to isolate for 10 or 12 days with symptoms. That was a rule and we struggled with that.
"But the attitude was always there and on a very high level. The season is still like this. We still struggle with injuries to important players – you saw it with Reece James coming back a few weeks ago and was straight away decisive for us. That’s how it is at the moment.
"We work hard for the luck but we accept that luck is also needed when you get a streak of wins like we had it. But still, the mentality is good, the quality is good, and I felt it after the Club World Cup that we were more fluid and with more rhythm back in training and it increased the level to an incredible level in training in matchday. It increased the level of training on matchday minus one. From there we had a good feeling and I am glad I was right."
The deadline for bids closed last night, when do you expect a resolution?
"I know about the timescale [of when bids had to be made] but I don’t know anything about the offers. I don’t know how many offers, if they are serious or who they are from. I am not so much interested in the details of the process. I know the guidelines of the process. This is enough for me. When it gets crucial and decisive then it is enough that I know it."
When will you know what's next?
"You know as much as me. I maybe know a few hours before. The offers are in now and the board tries to find a decision with the government as soon as possible."
No Reece James today, will you be speaking with Gareth Southgate about his England call-up?
"Petr Cech will have this chat because, of course, the recommendation is that he does not go. He is still in individual training, otherwise, we would have brought him to Lille and we would have brought him here for sure. There is no doubt about it. He is still in individual training, he needs one more week of rehabilitation and I think we can provide this much better than – it is not the job of the national team to do this."
Do you feel there is an outside chance you're still in the title race, you're not too far behind Man City and Liverpool if you win your game in hand and you're on a good run?
"The problem is they are also on a run for a long time. They are like three years on a run, I have the feeling and it seems like their three years on a run our 13 games is not enough. We have to be honest.
"We will never admit anything before things are decided. We will always push ourselves and push ourselves to the limit. We cannot do anything else, but we should not get carried away that two teams took advantage of our problems, so full credit to them, they deserve to be where they are and we need to make sure to catch as many points as possible."
What are your plans for the players during the international break?
"Very easy – a holiday for the players that have the chance. That they recharge and disconnect from football because they deserve and it is also very important that they take this possibility to come with a fresh mindset for the last eight weeks of the season and the guys who go for international duties I hope they have the success they want and they come back not injured."
