Conte on Batshuayi’s future, Llorente, Dzeko, injury news and his transfer window ‘frustration’
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte spoke about a number of issues at a media conference ahead of the game against Bournemouth. Here’s some of what the Italian had to say.
On the latest injury news
“Morata, Luiz and Willian are out. The other players (including Courtois and Fabregas) are available.
“Luiz is injured since two days before the game against Newcastle.
“He has an injury in his ankle. He’s trying to recover and needs a bit of time to recover.”
On Michy Batshuayi
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“Now he is a Chelsea player and for this reason he is in contention for tomorrow’s game – also because we have Morata who is injured and I don’t have other options, especially with Willian injured.”
On uncertainty over Batshuayi’s future
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“When the transfer market is closing there are problems we have to face, and we have to face injury problems with Willian and Morata; it is not simple.
“The coach has to speak with the player. It is not a simple situation, the Batshuayi situation. There is only one day and is not the best for me or the players. Today he trained well.
“There is the Batshuayi situation but I ask my players to be focused on the game and our target is to play a good game.”
On Edin Dzeko
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“He is Roma’s player. I think he will continue to be Roma’s player.”
On reports he is keen on Tottenham’s Fernando Llorente, who was wanted by Conte last summer
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“The summer was the summer. Now we are in January, it is the winter and it is a different situation. We are talking about players of the other teams.
“I give my opinion to my club and the club is trying to do the best in the transfer market. It is right to respect players from other teams.”
On whether he is hopeful signings will be made
“I can hope everything, but the most important thing is the reality and now the reality is this and I have to prepare for the game in the right way with these players and am very happy to do this.
“I will be happy in both cases – if the club decides to add players but otherwise I am happy to work with the players because they show great behaviour and commitment.
“I hope to finish very soon the transfer market because then you can change the questions for me.
“I am really annoyed for this period. To play every three days it means you must have a press conference every three days. In this period it is very difficult to have always the same questions: If the target is this, if you are you happy or unhappy.
“For me to have always the same questions, it is a bit frustrating.”
