Is Thiago Silva set to miss six weeks – and what is the other team news?
“Thiago will be around that time, not sure exactly. [Edouard] Mendy is making progress. N’Golo [Kante] had his first full session today, but still needs time. Mason [Mount] has had a problem with a lower abdomen area and tomorrow is too soon for him.
"Reece [James] has a tightness in his hamstring; we are assessing him but he’s doubtful for tomorrow as well. Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] has made progress but is not through protocols after a head injury like that.”
Do you see Leeds and Borussia Dortmund as make-or-break games?
"I don't tend to look at it in any way like that. I tend to focus on the next match. We know the situation we're in – and that is to improve the results we've had. That is my responsibility. They've not been good enough so that is all I focus on now."
It was highlighted after Tottenham that Mason Mount appeared to be angry after coming on, is that related to the uncertainty over his contract?
"Mason, for us, has been great to work with. He has been top. He is suffering like the rest of us because we want to do better and have better results. In terms of the contract, that's between him and the club. I'm the head coach and my job is to work with the players and help them improve. At the moment, we're not doing that as well as we'd like. So that is the focus for me."
Is he a player that you want to stay at the club beyond this summer?
"I'm not thinking about the summer, with the greatest respect. I'm thinking about tomorrow's match: preparing the team, helping the team, getting better results and performances, and responding to the bad moment we're in. That's the focus."
Richard Masters said yesterday about Chelsea to judge the club in three or four years, do you that is fair given there have been so many changes?
"Again, my position is that I need to focus on the next game. Whatever the discussions are over the long term, that isn't for me. My discussion is tomorrow's match, focus on that, and help the team. We understand the moment we're in and we need to improve."
Could it perhaps be positive to miss out on European football for one season?
“You can’t think at any point that it’s a positive to not be in Europe. That’s clear. We are a club with ambition and a desire to compete at the top. At the moment, we are not and we have to address that. That starts with tomorrow's match."
Anything you're seeing that is significantly different from training to a matchday?
"That's the frustrating bit for us because we're seeing a lot of positives day to day, but they haven't been transferred onto the pitch in terms of results. Performances haven't been as bad as our results I would say, but we know the business we're in and the results we haven't liked. In terms of daily training, how the group is coming together, how players are getting stronger, that is all positive. But it's hard to talk positively because we're in a moment where results aren't good."
Is your message to the players tomorrow to be brave against Leeds?
"It's always the approach but sometimes these things happen in football. The Premier League is the best league in the world and it's the best league because anybody can beat anybody. We have full respect for the competition but the focus should be on us. We need to understand the position we're in and we've been fighting this week and prepare well so we're in a position to conduct ourselves well and give a performance our supporters are happy with."
The high press of Leeds, is your midfield going to have to be more resolute?
"We know Leeds, since they've been in the Premier League, have always played with that intensity. It's something we have to deal with. We're aware of it and have to understand what the opponent brings, but we have to perform well and be ourselves. We're fighting for the points."
What has it been like on the training pitch? How challenging is it to work with so many players?
"Not really. We're coaches and it's our job to work with the players we have. I think we've done it well. Training has been good, the spirit in the team has been as good as it can be when we're in a period of results we're in.
"The boys have taken responsibility and understand where we're at. We all admit we can do better – firstly me – and the players are honest enough as well to know they can do better. We're all there and fighting but we need to show it on the pitch and that has to manifest itself with three points."
Spoken to the owners today, still giving you the same message of support?
"There is support and, of course, I've spoken to them. But I'm not going to hide behind that. The results haven't been good enough for us and I'm responsible for that. When you're a coach, if the results are good you accept the criticism and noise that comes with it. My job is to stay with the team, stay focused, try to prepare the team as well as I can, and win the game tomorrow."
Do you have a message for the fans tomorrow? They seem a bit edgy at the moment.
"That's understandable. Fans care and however that comes out is understandable. We're hurting as well but we also know they are. Again, it's understandable. We thank them for their support because it's been there, but when you lose 1-0 at home to the team that is bottom of the league, you expect a negative reaction.
"I've no complaints about that at all. I have no complaints about supporters. They've been fair with us and we haven't been good enough at the moment to be really excited about the team. That is where the work is."
You’ve said you’re not seeing things on the pitch that you see in training, how much is it of a psychological issue then?
“Every team in the world has moments when they find it difficult. And every team has moments where everything goes well. We’re in the first moment so our job is to fight through it. There’s no other way. We have to keep working, stick together, fight, and believe we can turn it around and the win is around the corner. That is what we’re hoping at the weekend.”
You say you can do better, Graham, explain that to me?
“The results are the results and ultimately the coach is responsible. So we have to improve those, that is the first thing. Then we have to look at the performance of the team and improve that because, generally, if you improve the performance of the team you can get better results. It’s not an exact science but it’s definitely the area. That is my responsibility and that’s what I have to do.”
You seem to be taking a lot of that responsibility on your shoulders...
“As a head coach, you have to. It’s the job. I don’t think it’s a total responsibility but it’s a huge responsibility. As I’ve said, the results haven’t been good enough and we know and accept that. There is no hiding, we have to do better and it starts with me.”
How do you focus on the next game with all the noise that is going on around you?
“By not listening too much to it is the honest answer and taking it step by step, the next training session, the next meeting, the next conversation with a player. I focus on the next thing and then bit by bit, you get through the days and weeks and it’s how you work. We’re fighting for improvement and to do better. The spirit is there in the team and among the staff. The spirit is there in me but as I’ve said, talking is one thing but we have to do it on the pitch.”
Is tomorrow simply about winning by any means necessary?
“The most important thing is Chelsea can win tomorrow. That is the most important thing. It’s easy to say ‘do something else and you win’. Clearly, there his always a thought process there but you can end up losing twice. There are no guarantees and that is the beauty of football. It’s certainly the beauty of the Premier League.
"It’s the toughest league in the world and a game that is hard to control. You have to fight and understand when you’re in a tough moment. You have to stick together and work hard, which is what the players have been doing this week. We’ll give it our best and we’ll try to win.”
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