Enzo Maresca has just conducted his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League showdown with Tottenham on Thursday evening.
The Blues head coach previewed Thursday night's clash with Spurs where he gave updates on the likes of Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Romeo Lavia. That, and much more, in the transcript below...
How is Cole Palmer? Is he fit to play?
"Yeah, Cole is back, he's okay, he's better, Noni is better, Nico is better, and yeah, they are all good."
How good to have that trio of excellent attacking players back in this game?
"Absolutely, very good. We said many times that at the end it's a game for players and when they are not there for different reasons, you struggle. This is exactly what happened with us this season, where we had five or six unbelievable months and then six or seven injuries in a row and we lost something, but now it's good to finish with a lot of them.
Obviously Cole didn't play for England, do you think that was good for him too?
"No, the reason why he was not with the international team is because unfortunately for us the day before Arsenal he had a muscle problem, that was not a big issue, but it doesn't allow him to play in an Arsenal game and to join the international team. We always said that going with the international team is the best thing for a player, but overall I think some days off for Cole but also for the rest I think was a good one."
We were reading reports last week that you were so unhappy with some of the training here on Wednesday that you cancelled the players' day off on Thursday, is that right?
"Yes, but it's nothing. Since I joined the club I always demand for high standards. International break, no official game, not many players here. The day after off, sometimes it's normal to be a little bit relaxed, but because I don't allow this we decide the day after to train, but it's nothing, nothing strange or nothing new.
"As I said, international break, not official game, not many players here. They are training here every day, every day, every day without any official game and then we play just a game between us and second team and we decide that, we take that decision."
With nine games left, how important is it that the players now give absolutely everything over the remaining months of the season?
"No, yeah, but since day one they are giving everything, fantastic. The attitude, the behaviour has always been top, every game, every game, every day. Even in the last three, four days, in the last week, because they know how important it is from now on, even if I think this already starts from four, five games, in the last 12, 13, 14 games.
"Every game becomes important and now, as you said, we have nine games to go and hopefully we can finish where we are at this moment."
Chelsea vs Tottenham is a massive London derby, there have been some excellent games over the years. In the context of Chelsea's situation at the moment, how big is this game?
"It's a huge game, it's big. We know how important it is for the fans, for the club, but in this moment it's also important for us to finish, as I said, to try to finish where we are now. That is a huge achievement in this moment for us."
Enzo Fernandes was away with Argentina, he did really well in that game against Brazil, he scores and assists as well. How important is Enzo going to be in the final weeks of the season?
"Enzo, I said already last week, since we started, he's improving a lot, he's understanding the game much, much better. At the beginning he struggled in the derby, now he's always doing the right things, he's always in the right position and the reason why he's scoring goals and assists is because most of the time he's in the right position, even with the international team. He was in the right position, he was inside the box, so I'm happy for Enzo."
There's been speculation about Jadon Sancho's future and his contract here and his loan, do you want to sign him permanently or is he going to be going back to United?
"All the players that are with us, I love all of them, but in this moment it's the moment to finish well and then it's not the moment to think about next season. I'm completely focused about nine games, two months to go, I'm completely focused about that. Then what happens in summer, we'll see. But all the ones that are here, I want them happy to be here."
What do you feel Tottenham's biggest strengths are and what do you feel their biggest weaknesses are?
"I think for part of the season they had many injuries also, so it's not easy to deal with that. As I said, important players out, so it's not easy to deal with that. Then for more things, I don't know, you have to be inside, you have to live the moment, you have to live in the changing room in the games. So I'm not able to give you more reasons, for sure the injuries that they had has been an important part."
In terms of that last game, the one that ended 4-3 to Chelsea, what do you feel Chelsea can do this time around to have more control of the game?
"I think a part of the two goals that we conceded, unfortunately, in the first shoot, is unfortunately a mistake. I think overall we played a good game, since minute one until the end. Then as I said, for sure if you avoid to concede those two goals it can be even better, but overall I think we did a good game then."
Chelsea's record against Spurs is incredible, I think they've got the most wins against Tottenham than any other opponent. In terms of what you want to achieve for the finale of the season, getting that Champions League spot, how much would getting a win over a London rival in a derby, how much would that really help boost the confidence of your players?
"From that win probably you can build momentum until the end, but from now on they are all important games and they are all with three points, so we need to win as much as we can in terms of numbers of games and then we'll see where we finish."
What's your message to Sancho?
"To be honest, probably you have more news than me in terms of Jadon. For me, Jadon's situation doesn't change, he's exactly the same. For sure, in terms of numbers, he could do better, no doubt, but it's not just about Jadon, I think we have more players in the same situation. Now, I don't need to give a Jadon message because I speak with Jadon every day, I had a conversation yesterday with him. He has just to continue to give his best until the end and this is what we want from Jadon.
Do you think Chelsea will be able to play quicker with the returning players?
"I've said many times, no matter who is playing, we want to be direct and quick when they press higher, but we cannot be direct and quick when they sit back. Probably the last game at home, if you review Leicester, West Ham, Wolves, Southampton, if you have a reminder of that game, there are all games where 11 players were behind the ball, almost at the edge of the box.
"It's impossible to attack quick. Now, against a team that they press higher, you can attack more quick for sure. But it's easier when you have players who are running behind, maybe the players you've had before in that period, they don't really like running behind, they like balls to feet.
"For skills, for character, for sure when you have players that they love to run behind more, it's more easy. But even when you have that and teams sit back, it's complicated. There is no space to attack in behind."
Reece James, you've been telling us all season his comeback has to be managed, he has to spend time in and out of the team, even when he's been playing well. How far along the process is he? Are we getting to a point where he will just be able to play every week or are you still thinking that he needs time?
"No, I still think that we need to manage Reece. The reason why is because his history probably better than me, because you are here for longer than me. And you know that he's a player that you need to be careful with him in this moment. And we want him fit until the end. So the idea is to try to manage him until the end and then we'll see in the future if we can go every day, every day, every day.
"But in this moment I think, because we need Reece until the end, we try to manage him and probably we are going to do exactly the same until the end."
Is he still young enough do you think that he can get back to his very best?
"Yes, Reece in another team is very, very young. In our team probably he's a bit old, but he's still very, very young. I think Reece is 25, 26. He's top age."
How is Romeo Lavia at the moment?
"He was doing better in terms of progress, but unfortunately one day ago he had again a small problem. So we're going to see in the next hours."
How important is qualifying for the Champions League for the growth of these young players?
"It's an important part and the reason why is because also they can, you know, if you are able to finish top four, top five, first of all it's fantastic for the fans, for the club because we bring this club where this club has been always there. But for the players it's also important because they can realise the work that they have done and they can build from them something for the future."