Since your arrival, the team’s performance has been inconsistent, but today was a notable improvement. How do you plan to replicate this level of performance against Brentford next Saturday?
“It’s about urgency, the understanding that we need to win. Given the current challenging situation, when we step onto the pitch, the focus is on getting that one result. We either succeed or we don’t. That sense of urgency is not about tactics or skills; it’s about the mindset that we must win the next game. This mindset needs to begin in our upcoming training sessions, not just with the next match.”
Has there been any communication with the Pope?
“[laughs] No, but [Sir] Jim [Ratcliffe] was here too. Just kidding! You all seem to enjoy that bit of humor, so don’t complain! [laughs] Let’s focus on winning the next game, and I’ll have another fun story for you next week.”
When you mention complicating things, could it reflect the pressure the players feel, leading to overzealous actions, like unnecessary tackles?
“It’s tough to determine. With Casemiro, there’s certainly pressure, but remember, he’s won five Champions Leagues. Sometimes, I feel there’s more pressure on the younger players. It could be that Casemiro is highly invested – we score once, and then he makes a decisive tackle. They make a few advances past our half, and there’s a desire to regain possession immediately. So, it’s not necessarily pressure; they just want it too badly in those moments. That can be a positive trait.”
Did the play that resulted in Chelsea’s red card stem from strategies you’ve been refining to capitalize on Bryan Mbeumo’s runs?
“It’s a combination of factors. We know that Ben[jamin Sesko] excels with his first touch, and Bryan brings valuable attributes from his previous club. You can see it in every detail: his runs, his aggression. We want to harness those strengths for our benefit. However, in the second half, when we cleared the ball, Ben wasn’t there, and we felt that absence. Their performance was solid. Now, let’s prepare for the next challenge.”
