Chelsea vs Spurs | Every word of Roberto De Zerbi's pre-match press conference

Here's what he had to say...

Who is out for the match tomorrow?

Roberto: "Pedro is back, Robertson is available, Marmoush is good, Solanke is good. Lucas Bergvall, Savio, nothing more I think... Bentancur."

One win in 34 league matches at Chelsea - why do you think Tottenham have such a bad record at Stamford Bridge?

Roberto: "I think it's not just this negative record. There are many, many negative records, but for me it's one motivation more. For the players, I want this negative record, they give us more motivation, more mentality, more energy to win a game, to play a good game, because we have the qualities enough to win a game, this game."

This is always a big match - how much do you enjoy the big derby matches?

Roberto: "Yes, it's a derby against one very good team, very good coach, they have a clear style of play, great players, but also Tottenham players are very good. The level of the players is high. We have to show together as a team, not as an individual."

There have been many famous battles at Chelsea, on-pitch fights. You said you liked what Bentancur did at United. Do you have to warn the players not to go too far?

Roberto: "Yes, where is the balance? It's always very difficult to fix a balance between the energy, the spirit, the mentality, and to step inside. If you have confidence in the players, you leave the players the freedom to decide their behaviour, to decide their reaction. For sure, I prefer one too strong reaction than one player without blood, without reaction.”

You've faced Chelsea quite a few times in the Premier League, including at Stamford Bridge in May. Do you think there's anything you can take from that game, a bit of a different style of play that can help you prepare?

Roberto: "I think every game is different. We change many players, they change not too many players, but they change coach, two coaches in the last two seasons. But nothing changes, you have to run, you have to fight, you have to put the same behaviour we are putting in the last two games, and then there is the game, to play with personality, with courage, to find a way to score, to find a way to defend in the best way we can with courage. Nothing more."

When your team isn't on the ball, what do you want to see from your players?

Roberto: "We kept the ball against Coventry, we didn't create too many chances, like in Manchester or Aston Villa also. But there is a reason, because when you find a low block so close, 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 or 4-4-1-1, it's still difficult. If you watch the game Man City vs Coventry, considering Man City one of the best teams in Europe, also Man City didn't shoot too many times, because it's a totally different game than a more open game. I think last season, the last game with Chelsea, we could make a great result. We conceded one stupid goal, but now it's completely changed the situation."

Chelsea change tactically during games, how important is it that your players know to address these changes on the pitch?

Roberto: "Against Coventry we played three at the back, we were predictable, not because we played three at the back, but because we played against one low block. We conceded only one counter-attack. I think we played a very good game in the order on the pitch, in the space we occupied. We can play tomorrow three at the back, we can play four, like the first period, nothing changed. It depends on the game, if the game is more vertical or more in control. Also for the behaviour, for the attitude of the opponent. If the opponent comes strong in the pressure, you will play more vertical. If they stay with the low block, if they cover the line pass, you have more time in control, but maybe you have many less spaces between the line, less spaces to do one-vs-one in dribbling. These are totally different games."

Great to see James Maddison start and Dejan Kulusevski return but how have their bodies reacted physically since the game?

Roberto: "I don't know, because in the first three days Maddison didn't work with us, I don't know if he's ready for tomorrow. We can play also with Mathys Tel, we can play with Marmoush, we can play with Gallagher, or we have more solutions considering Pedro Porro can play. Like I said many times, I don't want to take risks, because if you analyse this period of European football, you can see many injuries, not for Tottenham, for everyone. So if I can, I don't want to take risks to lose many players for many games."

Kulusevski?

Roberto: "Kulusevski also. Kulusevski worked well, but in the first days he stayed individual."

Another injury - is Destiny Udogie available?

Roberto: "No, he's not available."

With his injury history, is he someone you're just going to have to always carefully manage?

Roberto: "With the medical staff, we are trying to find the best way for him, because managing the player is anyway work. But after Manchester United, I have not worked with him, and this is a problem. We are lucky because we have in the same position many solutions. Robertson, Ben Davies and Micky van de Ven, if we play thee at the back. But we have to find the best for him and the best for us."

Also, he's not been mentioned for while, Wilson Odobert, how close is he to coming back to training?

Roberto: "I don't know, because he has not started yet to work with us, and I have no idea."

Chelsea have signed a lot of player and staff from your former club, Brighton - when you were Brighton manager, what was that like for you?

Roberto: "What do you think?"

Not great?

Roberto: "No, not at all. Yes, but they bought great players. Nothing to say. Caicedo, Joao Pedro, Welbeck now, Robert Sanchez, Colwill, but Colwill was on loan."

Does it make you any more motivated when you face Chelsea?

Roberto: "No, I am always motivated. Chelsea or another team. You know when we work in Brighton, we work to make happy your club and to make happy your club, sometimes you need to sell players and the players want or push to leave for bigger clubs and it’s football. It is a normal part of football."

There is a lot of talk about Chelsea's front three - are Joao Pedro, Rogers and Palmer the best attack in Premier League right now?

Roberto: "One of the best, for sure."

What makes them so good?

Roberto: "Talent, three big talents and they have also Pedro Neto, another very good player, they have Henderson and Welbeck, Estavao, they have more than three players, but these three players are in the best moment of their career."

You know the record - do you sense any fear in your players ahead of tomorrow's match?

Roberto: "No, I think not."

What about inside the club, the staff, do you get that sense people think, 'it's Chelsea, we know what's going to happen...'?

Roberto: "No. I think no, because I played just one game with Chelsea as Tottenham coach. Anyway, it has to be one motivation more, no? Not one more problem for us. What is the problem? We didn’t play in the past for Tottenham and I was not the Tottenham coach in the last seasons. It is not a problem. We have already many problems and this is not a problem."

Have you spoken to the players about it?

Roberto: "No, not yet."

Do you plan to?

Roberto: "It can be a good motivation, like I said, but no one pressure, just motivation."

Do you hope the referee is strong tomorrow in a white-hot atmosphere?

Roberto: "No, I don’t want to speak about the referee. No. We have to keep the focus, keep the eyes on the ball, on our game, on our plan, our mentality and our energy and stop - nothing more."

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