Do you think finishing in the top four is still realistic goal at this point of the season?
“I think given the situation we’re in, to think about what is going to happen in five months’ time is the wrong path for us. We just have to focus on the next day and the next game. We have to keep being together, keep the performance level we showed today, keep taking the challenges that come our way, and try to stay together as a team and as a club and move forward.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng didn’t look best pleased when he was brought off having come on as a substitute, do you expect any kind of fallout from it?
“He came on after one minute, hadn’t played for a while, and put in an absolute shift for us given Manchester City make you run a lot. I thought he did everything he could for the team. He was fatiguing a little bit, same as Hakim [Ziyech], so that was the decision. We needed a little bit of energy so I thought we could use Omari [Hutchinson], Conor [Gallagher], and Lewis [Hall]. Of course, players want to stay on the pitch and influence the game. It’s a normal reaction.”
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Did you say anything especially to him after he came off?
“No, I’ve not got time to speak in any depth in that point. You understand that footballers want to play and help the team. It’s a decision we have to make. He hasn’t played for a while and playing against Manchester City as a forward, sometimes you have to do a bit of work off the ball. He gave everything for the team and was fatiguing a little bit. So that was the decision.”
There were a couple of injuries to Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic, how are they and how difficult are the injuries making it for you?
“It doesn’t make it any easier. It’s too soon [to know the extent]. Raheem, it was his first action in the game, a strange one, a back heel. Christian’s, he was running at full pelt and it’s a blocked shot and contact with his knee. Fingers crossed it’s not too bad.
"Mason [Mount] got a kick yesterday in training, again we’re hopeful for the weekend but it’s one of those things at the moment. I’ve never experienced anything like it and I’d ideally not want experience it here. But it is what it is, I have to just carry on.”
Does it feel with the injuries that nothing is going right at the moment?
“I think there was a lot right today in terms of the performance. I like the players and I like what we tried to do. We’re playing against a top side and our performance level was good, competitive. There was a lot of spirit on the pitch, hit the post, had opportunities, had courage in attack, took responsibility when we had to defend, we suffered as a team. So there was a lot to like.”
You said you wouldn’t want to experience this amount of injuries and particularly here, what do you mean by that, is it because of the pressure?
“Not really. Obviously, the expectation is where it is. You want to be here, have all your players available, a fully fit squad, and be able to compete. You know the demands of our supporters, who I thought were fantastic tonight, really supportive and got behind the team in a great way. It is frustrating for everybody at the moment.”
What is your thinking when you switch the centre-backs: Kalidou Koulibaly was on the right at Nottingham Forest but it was the other way around today?
“We thought Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] would play a little bit more deeper than Marc Cucurella, so we didn’t want to expose Thiago [Silva] in terms of down the side. Kouli can play a little bit more on his left side than Thiago, and then we had Denis [Zakaria] in front of Thiago. So that was the thinking.”
What have you made of Denis Zakaria in the last few games – and especially tonight?
“I thought he was really good. Defensively, he covered such ground, won the ball back, gave everything in terms of his duels, was brave with the ball, found solutions, progressed the ball. I thought he was the positive of the evening.”
It’s six points from a possible 24 now in the Premier League, that isn’t good enough for Chelsea is it?
“No, no. If you just analyse that in terms of points and the amount of games, it’s hard for me to argue against it. There are factors to consider and the margins of the Premier League are small. It’s a narrow defeat to Manchester City; a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle with nine injuries; a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal; a bad day against Brighton; a draw against Manchester United; a draw against Brentford; and then Nottingham Forest the other day.
"So points-wise, no, hard to argue. The margins and situation are what they are. For me, it’s more about how we play and I think in terms of analysing how we can improve, we took a step today. We were disappointed after Nottingham Forest but we took a step forward today in terms of our performance.”
When you see Man City bringing on Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish, do you feel City’s depth will help them in the title race?
“I don’t know if they have an advantage over anyone else but they’ve got a fantastic squad and a fantastic coach. They’re used to winning and they play at a top level. They’ll be there or there about I’m sure.”
Roger Schmidt, the Benfica manager, has today accused Chelsea of disrespect and sent Enzo Fernandez ‘totally crazy’ with the pursuit of him. What’s your response to that?
“I don’t get involved in conversations via the media. I’ve nothing to say. No comment.”
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