Conte on Batshuayi, West Ham, his tactics, Willian, Mourinho and Zouma’s return
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte answered questions on a range of topics at his news conference ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup game with West Ham. Here’s some of what he had to say.
On John Terry
“He’s fit to start. He’s in a good shape. Tomorrow I will decide on the starting line-up, but John is fit. He trained very well this week, last week and is ready.”
On the West Ham game
“We know that it’s a tough game against a big rival. We played also against them in the Premier League, I remember a tough game. But we are ready, all the players are ready to play a good game. I hope to see a good atmosphere. I know that these two teams are big rivals but in England it’s fantastic the atmosphere during the games and I hope to see this on Wednesday.”
On Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas
“Ivanovic is better, because he started to train with us from yesterday. But as is normal after an injury he needs a bit of time to find the right shape to come back with our squad.
“Cesc is still not well. We must wait because he had a muscular problem. We must be patient, but I hope to see him very soon with the team in the training session.”
On Kurt Zouma’s appearance for the U-23s
“I am pleased about this because Zouma is a good player and I hope to see him very, very soon. When we start the training session after West Ham, I hope to see him start working with us. I am very happy that he played with the Under-23s. He had a good answer in the physical aspect after the game, and we are pleased.”
On rotating the squad for the EFL Cup
“For us it’s an important competition but also we know this cup can permit you to see some players that are working very well with us and to see the development of these players.
“We know also that in this season we have only the FA Cup and this cup to have the situation to see the other players. For this reason, probably we can see some changes.”
On comments made by Jose Mourinho
“I think in this moment it’s not important to talk again about a game that for me, for my players, for the club is in the past. United is the past, now it is important to be very focused for the game against West Ham.
“I am pleased for the performance of my players against United because I think we played a good game with good intensity and showed a lot of positive things. But now it’s important we don’t look at the past, focus on the present and to build something for our future.”
On whether he will tone down his touchline histrionics
“I think everyone must show respect for me, for my work, for my job. In every game I show myself.
“I have a history – you can see my history, my past and my behaviour on the bench. It’s normal – I am a passionate man, I showed this in the past.
“Now, I want to stay very close to my players and to play with them. I always show respect for the opponent, the other club, and my history speaks for me.”
On his tactics
“It’s important for the coach to understand the right characteristics of his players. I knew that Chelsea always played with 4-2-3-1. We played with this system this season and also we tried to play with a 4-2-4, also with a 4-3-3.
“But after two bad defeats, against Liverpool and Arsenal, I decided to change because I saw the situation wasn’t good for us. For this reason, now we are working under this system but we are ready also to play with the other systems.
“The most important thing is to maintain the right principles of play, the right intensity, to attack the space, to try to win the ball back very soon when you lose it, and to stay compact – then you can play with 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 4-2-4, 4-2-3-1, it’s not important.”
On Willian’s state of mind after the death of his mother
“Willian is in a good moment now. Before, the moment wasn’t good for him. He is a fantastic man and a fantastic player. We love him.”
On Michy Batshuayi
“He’s a young player but for me he can make great improvements. He has great quality in the technical and physical aspects, [but] he can grow a lot. He’s working very well. Sometimes he plays – he started two games with us. I have full confidence in him and I’m sure that if Michy plays he’ll play a good game.”
On Batshuayi learning from Diego Costa
“When you are in a great team and you have the possibility to work every day with a great player, to learn a lot of things, it’s a positive for him.
“Michy has great potential. We trust a lot in him. He must continue to work so he can exploit the moment that he plays.”
On Tammy Abraham
“Abraham is another young player. He’s the future for Chelsea, for sure. I saw him [for] only one week during the pre-season in America, then we decided to send him to play every game and to get experience and then to come back with us. Abraham has great potential in the technical and physical aspect.
“I think the academy is working very well. In my squad, we have [Nathaniel] Chalobah, we have [Ola] Aina, we have [Dominic] Solanke, Ruben Loftus-Cheek. This is fantastic because you can see the future. If they deserve to play, they play.”
On whether any of those youngsters will play against West Ham
“It’s important to send the right message; we want to win. It’s important to understand this – if I decide to put in the starting XI some young players, it’s only because I trust in these players, not to make a gift to someone.”
On West Ham
“I think West Ham had a bit of a difficult start but now after two wins they have confidence. When I see the squad of West Ham, I see a lot of good players, players that I know very well, for example [Angelo] Ogbonna and [Simone] Zaza.
“West Ham has a very good manager, a great worker. I know him, I know his type of work. We have a great respect. We played against them in the first game and I remember a tough game – for sure it’ll be a similar game.”
