Is that a positive result or a frustrating one?
“We’re happy with the performance of the team, happy with the energy, spirit and discipline we had. It’s never easy coming here because of Liverpool’s quality and Anfield. So we take the point, we accept it, and we move forward in a positive way.”
With hindsight, could Mykhailo Mudryk have started?
“No, no. He’s not played since November, hasn’t had any game time, so it would’ve been a risk to play him from the start. It was more managing his minutes at the backend of the game. We thought it was the right time to bring him in.”
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Were you happy with what you saw?
“Yes, he was really good. He’s only been with us a couple of days and he’ll get better the more he is with us and the more we understand him and the more he understands us. But promising signs.”
What do you see in Mudryk long-term?
“He’s had two sessions with us but from watching him at Shakhtar, seeing his quality there, he is dangerous in one-vs-one situations, in the final third he can make things happen, he’ll get supporters of their seats. Dribbling actions are really high and he knows where the goal is. Our job is to help him settle into the team, help him settle into the country and league, and gain an understanding of us and how we can help him.”
How positive are the impacts that Joao Felix and Mudryk made instantaneously?
They are top players. Sometimes as coaches, we can think we turn these guys into top players, but they are top players. Joao and Mudryk, they understand the game and football. Then it’s just about helping them, fine-tuning it a little bit, the more we can get them into better situations the better it is for us and them. The signs are positive.”
Do you think the second half of the season will be exciting? And do you think you can still chase down the top four?
“Rather they worry about in four or five months’ time, we’ve got to focus on the next day’s training and the next match. Liverpool have suffered as well but if you look at how many players we’ve had missing for a significant period of time, it’s into double figures. So that will affect any team in the Premier League.
"We also have to understand the transition we’ve all been through and all that brings. I think the way the team stuck together through a period where there was a lot of criticism, noise, pressure, we stayed together and kept trying to improve.
"Then you get yourself to a situation where some injured players are coming back, we’ve made signings that freshen the group up, and then there is more competition in the team. This is what you need at Chelsea.”
Are you excited then?
“I think you’ve got to be excited all the time, even though sometimes you have to suffer. We’ve had to do that because I’m having to answer questions about form when there are ten injured players on the side. It wasn’t like I wasn’t selecting them, they just weren’t available. But you always have to be excited. Even though Jurgen [Klopp] has been suffering, I’m sure he’ll say he’s excited to be working for Liverpool. These are the best opportunities in football.”
Does Thiago Silva never cease to amaze you?
“He’s got a football brain that is pretty much above everybody. He understands the game and he’s played for so long at the highest level. The players he’s played with, the players he’s played against, his references are so strong that he can help the team and individuals. He’s got Benoit [Badiashile] next to him, just his second game in the Premier League, and I’m sure he benefits from playing alongside Thiago. Everyone benefits from him. He is a leader on the pitch, leader off the pitch, a really important player”
What do you expect Noni Madueke will add to the squad?
“Now I can speak about him because he’s a Chelsea player. He’s an exciting player and brings a left-footed attacking option for us and competition in that area of the pitch. He’s a young player that has had a good start in his career, accumulated games at a big club in Holland, and he’s ready to take the next step. We need to help him make that step and adjust to life with us and the Premier League. He’s an exciting player and I think our supporters will like him.”
What’s the latest on Trevoh Chalobah?
“I don’t know to be honest. I’ve had to come out and speak to you guys.”
With the squad you have, do you envisage making changes game-to-game or will you have unchanged line-ups?
“You never know. There are always slight problems that are picked up in terms of injuries, so you have to adjust to that. But I think stability helps the team. We have to be as stable as we can but at the same time, we acknowledge the competition we have in the group and the squad.
"So it’s a balance of the two. Every game brings a slightly different demand and you have to take into consideration the form and position of the players. So it’s a balancing act. You don’t always get it right of course but that is the challenge.”
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