Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premier League game against West Ham United (kick-off 12:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Maresca confirmed Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are back in the squad after illness but Reece James and Malo Gusto remain out.
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On managing James’ recovery: “Waiting until he is fit. This injury has delayed it but the most important thing is they come back when they are 100%. We don’t have an idea at the moment [of when he will be back].”
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He said there is “no doubt” players play too many games, adding: “I don’t think we protect players. The only ones who can do something is the players. We can say what we think and that, for me, it is completely wrong the amount of games we have but only ones who can do something is the players.”
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On how he would react if players asked to be left out of games: “It is not going to happen. Since they were very young, they train and work and dream to be football player. They are not going to say ‘I don’t want to play’.”
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On if he is confident this squad can get top four: “Since I met the owners for the first time, no one mentioned to me the target is to finish top four. I think this is a good squad but if in the last two years we finish 12th and sixth, to improve is not automatic. You need progress.”
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The Chelsea boss doesn’t think his side has “a discipline issue” after a number of yellow cards this season: “The Bournemouth game is because of the type of pitch and type of game that you are required to make some fouls. Some of the cards were avoidable from the referee.”
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On the battle between Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku for the main striker position: “We use Nkunku as nine in the last game for last 10 minutes. He is completely different to Nico [Jackson]. Nico is a number nine, Christo is not, but we can use him as a nine in a different way. I’m completely happy with my squad, not just those two. They are versatile and we can use them in different positions.”
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