Enzo Maresca has just completed his post-match press conference following Chelsea's 1-0 defeat away at Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues were very disappointing at the Emirates Stadium with Mikel Merino's header in the first-half proving to be enough for the Gunners. Maresca has just reacted to his side's defeat and you can read every word he had to say below.
**What did you make of the performance?**
"I think we struggled a little bit at the beginning. I think the first 20 minutes, we struggled a little bit, but after that, we started to control the game and created some chances. In the second-half, the game was 50/50 and for me, the biggest difference was the set-piece strategy."
**Is your away form a concern? Can you achieve what you want to achieve with that record?**
"First of all we are going to try and win games away. At the moment, we are winning games at home and we are going to try and do the same away. At the beginning of the season, we were winning games away and struggled at home. Now it's the other side. We are there, for sure, we need to improve away but overall I think we are good."
**How much are the team struggling offensively with the injured players?**
"It's a huge difference if you think of the three players with most goals for us are Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke. Not one of them was on the pitch today. For two of them, they have already been out a long time, so it is normal that offensively we struggle a little bit, even if - until today - we are the second or the third best attacking team in the league.
"That means in any case we are doing well without those players but we could do better with the players that are injured at the moment."
**Is there a lack of belief from Chelsea in these big games?**
"If the results say that. What I can say between the first game against Arsenal and today's game, to be honest, I don't see a big difference between us and them.
"This means we are, for me, since I arrived, I have the feeling we are on the right path and we are very close. We need just that step forward to compete in these kind of games. That step comes finishing in the top four, top five, Champions League spot."
**Do you expect Cole Palmer to be available for England?**
"I don't think so, to be honest. His injury was from yesterday's session - it's a muscle problem, so I don't think so."
**Do you think a break might be beneficial for Palmer?**
"We don't wish players injured but in Cole's case, in this moment, it will give him some rest physically and mentally. It could be good."
**Does Cole need a scan?**
"He needs a scan and the scan is planned for tomorrow \[Monday\]."
**Are you confident he will be back for the first game after the break?**
"I hope so but we need to wait for the scan."
**Is it a knee injury, hamstring?**
"Muscle problem. Muscle injury."
**You said a while ago Noni, Marc Guiu and Jackson will be back after the international break. Do you expect that to be the case still?**
"Marc Guiu, I didn't say that. I mentioned Nico and Noni. They are progressing very good and they can be back after the international break."
**With Palmer out, did you expect more from Nkunku and Sancho?**
"First of all, we score many goals but they don't concede many goals. I think they are the first or the second \[best\]. It's not easy to create chances against them. For sure, when you have important players injured, it's not easy.
"Jadon did quite well, Christo also. I didn't have the feeling they can do something better. For sure, we can create and attack better as a team."
**What did you make of Robert Sanchez's performance?**
"I think he did a good game. He did some good saves. With his feet, in some moments he was quite good and in some moments he struggled a little bit. But overall, I think his performance was quite good."
**Do you think your players showed today that they can perform well without Palmer, or did you think it showed they are too reliant on him?**
"No, to be honest, I didn't have this feeling because probably if Noni was there, or Nico was there, then probably the game is different. It's not just about one player. When I say we cannot rely on Cole, it's correct to say because you cannot rely on one player. It's about the team and don't give too much pressure on Cole."