Conte on Lampard, Bournemouth, Ake, Batshuayi and replacing key Chelsea duo
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was asked about a number of issues at his press conference ahead of the Boxing Day home game with Bournemouth. Here is some of what the Italian had to say.
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“We are in a good shape, and all the players are fit. We haven’t any new injuries.”
Giving players time off
“I gave [them] three days off because I thought that my players deserved this after a really intense period.
“We played three games in only six days and I thought that the best way to recover was with three days off.
“When you give three days off, you don’t know the destination of your players.
“But I think the most important thing is to recover, not only with your body but above all with your head.”
FULL STORY: Chelsea players deserved time off – Conte
Suspensions for N’Golo Kante and Diego Costa
“We know that for this game N’Golo and Costa can’t play. For sure, they are two important players for us.
“But we are working very well this week to try to find a solution, to play good football, to continue to win, to take the three points.
“We all know that against Bournemouth it won’t be easy, because they are a very good team with great organisation.”
FULL STORY: Costa’s absence ‘a big blow’ – Courtois
Frank Lampard’s appearance at training
“It’s very nice to see him. He’s a legend for this club and it’s fantastic when he comes to see the training session, to talk with us and to stay also with former team-mates. I found him in good form.
“We didn’t talk about this. Frank wants to continue to play football. I saw him in good form and a good shape to continue to play football. For his future, I think it’s better to ask him.”
Losing Steve Holland to England
“For Steve, [it’s important] to be focused on this season because it is very important for us. Steve is a very good professional and is helping me a lot with my experience at Chelsea because he has great experience with this club.
“It’s a pity to lose him, I must be honest, but also I can understand his choice because this type of situation can arrive only once in your life, to be a coach with your national team.
“It’s a pity because I work very well with him. I have a fantastic staff, there is a great family spirit with us.
FULL STORY: Holland to leave Chelsea for England role
Eddie Howe
“I think he’s a really good manager. He’s very young and is doing very well with Bournemouth.
“I’m studying Bournemouth and I’m watching a good team with good organisation in the tactical aspect.
“They try always try to play from the back and put on good pressure.
“I like him and have great respect for him. I wish for him a good career and I think if he continues in this way, for sure, he can become a manager of a great team.”
Nathan Ake, on loan at Bournemouth from Chelsea
“Now the most important thing is that Ake is playing very well and is getting great experience. As for the future, I prefer to talk with the club. But he’s playing very well and improving a lot.”
Replacing Costa and Kante
“I have four days to evaluate the situation and to try to find the best solution for the team.
“For sure, Diego is an important player for us but in these days we are working to find the right solution. In the squad I have different solutions.
“This is a good test for us because we play this game without two players who are very important for our team.
“For this reason, it’s important to evaluate the situation in our squad, [whether] to give the possibility to play some players who until now are not playing a lot, or to find another solution.
“What my eye sees this week is very important.”
FULL STORY: Conte keeps Bournemouth guessing over Batshuayi
Matching his record of 12 league wins in a row, achieved at Juventus
“Now is different because in this league there are many teams that can fight for the CL [qualification], for the title, for the EL [places] and for this reason it’s important to continue in this way. We know that it won’t be easy but we have to try with all our strength.”
Michy Batshuayi
“It’s not easy to arrive in this league if you are a young player, and you are arriving in a new country. It’s difficult to adapt because this league is very tough. It’s a very physical league, very strong, but I think Michy is working very well.
“We must have patience with him, work with him, try to help him improve and then next step is to play more this season.”
FULL STORY: Batshuayi needs to adapt, Conte admits
Using a different formation against Bournemouth
“I think that this team showed in the past that we can play with different formations.
“I must be honest that when we played with different formations, we didn’t have this type of results.
“It can be an option but we are working to find the right solution, with the right men in the right place, to try to continue this way, and to win.”
