Full transcript of Xabi Alonso’s pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea v Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Xabi Alonso made a statement to the press before Chelsea’s match against Everton at Hill Dickinson stadium.
During the pre-match press conference Blues manager Reece James provided an update on Cobham training ground on Friday afternoon, including whether his injury will affect his plans to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window and who will inherit the captain’s armband.
Alonso explained he could take credit for the quick starts, commenting on the formation out of possession he deployed in last weekend’s win over Bournemouth and saying he plans to sacrifice his side’s attacking freedom for a clean sheet or two.
The Chelsea manager also pointed out what Emmanuel Emegha will have to offer once he finally returns from the treatment room, having missed the entire season so far due to injury.
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So with that being said, football.london Copied every word from Alonso’s press conference.
What can you tell us about James’ injury?
Yes, we are all disappointed, especially for him, he wanted to start well after the international break, but he got injured in the last training, we wanted to be careful and wait to know the results of the tests, but now the operation went well, it was successful, we continue to support him.
He will be close to the team; he makes a huge impact even when he is not around and I wish him the best recovery. We’re not giving a time frame, but he’ll be out for a few weeks.
How long do you expect him to be out for as there is a suggestion it could be three months?
We don’t know exactly, it will be a few weeks, it won’t be short, it won’t be two, three weeks, it will be longer and we will see after Christmas, time will tell after Christmas, but things have to be done right, he feels right and it has to be at his best and yes, it’s a disappointment for everyone, for him, but we have to agree.
How do you feel about the options in central midfield for the next term?
We have four more games in the Premier League before the next break, a cup game, so I think we can manage well with the players we have, the players they play, the options available, so we feel good.
Will Reece’s injury affect you approaching the January transfer window in terms of potentially signing him?
No, I don’t think so, because we expect him to be back a few weeks ago, so let’s see, it’s not an exact timeline with him, so it doesn’t affect him.
Reece is a very important player for you, but as a manager, how difficult is it as there have been problems with his availability over the last two years?
He is still a very important player and he is the captain, he has a big impact and I hope he will be ready for many games after he recovers from this injury, he works hard, he has a good mentality and we need him.
Any new injury updates this week?
no.
How much do you read the expected goals? A lot has been made of it this season and Chelsea are superior when it comes to your xG. Is it sustainable? Can you keep scoring at this rate?
I hope our goal is to keep it going, and we certainly haven’t talked too much about not letting that many go. If we improve or keep scoring goals and reduce the number of goals conceded, we will be on a better path, but we have to go game by game and it will be difficult at Everton tomorrow.
We are looking forward to this game, the intensity, the high demand game, the high tempo. I haven’t been to the stadium, but I’m told it’s a nice stadium with a good atmosphere, so we’re looking forward to it.
You said it would be a tough game, it’s your first away game since Brentford. How much do you hope your side learned from this experience at Brentford and what do you want to see tomorrow?
I want us to compete and know what it takes to win away Premier League games in difficult stadiums, in stadiums they create great energy, emotional, but we can fight this game, but at the same time we compete well and the experience is not forgotten for Brentford.
Against “Bournemouth” we saw that “Chelsea” entered the game with a score of 4-4-2. How do you think the players performed? It seemed to fit them a little better, and why did you create that formation?
Well, we want to be flexible, but at the same time we feel we are solid when we press a little bit lower, but we feel that the distances are right, the balance is right and we chose that way against Bournemouth, Everton will be different, they are doing very good things, they have very good players who have experience, so these principles are important, it can be at 2.52. how you help and how you have good balance, that’s what you have to defend and then the ball is something else.
And more specifically, the off-ball midfielders seem to cover a lot for the centre-backs and full-backs, especially when the team goes forward. What would you like to see first from the long range owners?
The midfielders have to make many, many, many, many decisions for me in a game, little decisions that seem insignificant but are very important, it means they are always thinking one step ahead of the game and I think Moi [Caicedo], [Jordan] Hendo, Rom [Lavia], [Valentin] Barco, we work for it and when it works, usually the team works better, they did really well the other day with Hendo and Moi and they choose the right decision because normally when they do well they help the teams around them because they are in the middle of everything and you have to enjoy the responsibility that is there.
Many players talk about your team, more specifically, Morgan Rogers said that you know how to motivate and excite the team. Now some managers are different; they are very specific about how they communicate with the team. Your team talks, do you schedule them, it’s very natural at this point, how do you approach it?
It’s in the moment and I don’t take credit for it, for me it’s for the players, the press conference, I don’t think because sometimes you talk and you lose the game, so it’s not for good, not for bad, but for sure you have to influence because the emotional part of the game is really important and sometimes it’s more natural, sometimes it’s more tactical, so I know it’s up to me. what will the team talk about tomorrow, before the game, so we’ll see when we get to the stadium, how I smell at Goodison, not at Goodison, now it’s Hill Dickinson, I’m old school!
James is your captain and Enzo Fernandez, you left him as your vice-captain, how is it working with your captaincy now?
It’s going well, we have Moi, we have Levi [Colwill]we have players who take responsibility and play the role perfectly, they get support from the rest, they see them with bandages and it’s not a problem.
So with Reece out, who will be in charge now? You talked about Levi and Moi. How do you want them to take charge when you’re away?
You can be captain without the armband, that’s not a problem for me, once you put it on you have to be proud and take responsibility, but you can’t have that leadership without it, it’s important and that’s why we have this group of captains who have to draw from the rest to do what they need to do not only on game day but during the week.
So who else is the captain and what do they bring, what about Levi and what does Moi bring and whoever else maybe Jordan or Cole [Palmer] bring?
They have their own personalities, each one is different, Levi is different from Rees, Moi is different, Cole, Hendo, each one is different, he was good, so it’s very important for me to have a good mix of personalities, qualities, stages of their careers that they help and I’m in a good place that way.
To be specific, why was Levi wearing a bandage on his arm and not Moi [in the 5-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend]?
I can’t be too specific with that.
When will Emmanuel Emegha be ready?
He is not [ready] yet; yesterday he felt something, small thing, he will train next week, but he is still not 100 percent fit to play in the game. He’s very special when he’s fit because he’s 1.95m, he’s quick, he attacks space, he’s a threat, so he needs to be fully fit.
At the moment he has little things and unfortunately he is not available, but we look forward to when he feels good and can help the team, but when he is in good form, he will be difficult for defenders.
Thinking of a return date?
Not yet, but still a few weeks away.
The previous Chelsea manager said that while Reece was injured a few years ago, he expected more from him as captain in terms of leadership in the team.
Who said that?
One of your previous managers. It was Enzo Maresca. How confident are you that you will get what you need from your captain?
I’m very confident because I think he’s very proud to play for this club, he’s very proud to get to this point because he’s played for so many years, so he’s gone through different stages and now he’s taken on that responsibility very naturally with his leadership style. But he is well respected by his teammates and he gets support from others.
It was really exciting to watch your team. I’m sure it’s not as exciting in the dugout as I worry about sometimes, but you think about getting your clean sheets, everyone says Chelsea have to get a clean sheet, you have to sacrifice, can you score as much as you play on the front foot? Is this a puzzle you’ve been trying to solve in the early weeks?
No, we have to. I think it will come, so we don’t need it, it’s not an obsession; The temptation is to win and race the best possible way and a clean sheet will come and I’m pretty sure of that.
Because we want to play with good balance, good control, but to create chances, our attacking power is fantastic, they link well, they have chemistry, so we have to maximize that and be more consistent. I think so far we have not been happy and I am sure that we will find a better performance in this way in the next period.