Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has faced the media ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Newcastle tomorrow evening.
The Blues chief was asked about a wide array of topics at his pre-match press conference, including his side’s lack of goals recently and the ongoing rumours surrounding a deal for Gonzalo Higuain.
Sarri revealed he wants two new players during the January transfer window but was coy when it came to names.
And he also addressed the futures of Cesc Fabregas, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Willian and Alvaro Morata. Read every word here.
On injury news for Newcastle clash
“[Ruben] Loftus-Cheek is out at the moment and then yesterday Alvaro [Morata] had the day training with team-mates so we have to see the last training today. I hope that he will be able to play.”
On facing Newcastle
“First of all we need to know the match is very difficult because they are doing better away. They lost eight matches out of 11 at home but only three out of ten away so it is a very difficult opponent away and the match will be the same.
“I hope of course to score in the first 30 minutes but if the match is the same we have to be patient and improve, not in the offensive phase because we played very well in the last matches in the off phase.
“We need to improve in the box, attacking the lateral balls and spaces. We need to improve in the last 20, 25 metres.”
On not scoring in last two Premier League games
“We need to score of course. We need to solve this problem because also in the last match we played I think very well with continuity and a very good offensive and defensive phase with a great performance from the physical point of view the best of the season but we didn’t score so now we have this problem. We only have to work and try and solve it as soon as possible I think.”
On if Andreas Christensen or Callum Hudson-Odoi could start against Newcastle
“[Christensen] played very well also in the previous match. He improved in defending, by looking at the ball so now he is ready.
“He is ready to play and I think that we have a very, very good option for David, for Rudiger who is ready to play so I don’t know tomorrow because he played two matches in 3 days for the first time this season.
“As for Callum, he recovered very well from the first match. Yesterday he was a little bit tired but that is normal for the first time he played two matches in three days. I want to see today the level of recovery.”
On Gonzalo Higuain transfer rumours
“As you know very well I am not involved with the market. I spoke with the club and they know very well my opinion we need two players and then it depends on the club decision. But I don’t know anything about the market day by day or minute by minute.”
On Cesc Fabregas leaving
“You know very well my opinion I think that he needs to go. In the moment for his mental condition he is not able to play I think. I don’t know the last decision of our club but at the moment he is not able to play.
“I need a replacement but I don’t need a very important player like Cesc unhappy here.”
On Bayern Munich confirming their interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi
“I think that it is not professional because they are talking about a player under contract with Chelsea so they didn’t respect our club. Then I don’t know what to say I don’t know the situation.
“I am happy with the player because he is improving, improving a lot in the defensive have. Now he needs to improve in some movements without the ball but he is working very well at the moment so I am very happy with the player and would like to have him in the future.”
On the Willian to Barcelona transfer rumours
“I didn’t receive anything yesterday. You have to ask the club. Call the club and ask about the market because if you ask me about the market you put me in trouble because I don’t know what to answer.
“Of course [Willian should stay] because he is really very important. I think that he can do better. He can do better because the potential is higher but he is really very important for us and it is impossible to lose him in January.
On who are the two players he wants
“As you can understand very well I cannot tell you but the club knows very well my opinion. At the moment my opinion is important for the club but I cannot tell you my opinion to 100 per cent.”
On Alvaro Morata transfer rumours and possible replacements
“Of course if Morata will go to another club we need another striker. That is normal. At the moment he is here so he has to think only to play because in this moment in Europe there are 300 players involved in the market and they need to think to the next match otherwise it is impossible to play.”
On if he likes the January transfer window
“It is crazy to have a market, window of 30 days in this moment of the season because we play every three days so we need something else. It is crazy.
“I think that the market window in January would be better for one week, ten days no more but it is crazy also the summer window for three months. In August, we played three, four, matches in the PL so I think it is crazy.”
