CHELSEA FC 🏆🔵

Enzo Maresca:

"Yes [Romeo Lavia and Reece James are available to start]. We are very happy with both. They played 45 minutes the other day. They are now ready."

On Noni Madueke:

"He is back. He is training with us. He is 100% fit."

"We don't need players to go out, it's simply because they probably want to play more, so it's a chance they want to leave."

On Ben Chilwell:

"He has been top. Very professional and worked hard. I feel ashamed because of the situation."

"It's my choice [not playing]. The reason why is because I can see Malo Gusto, Reece James and Cucurella doing different jobs. Chilwell is a top full-back doing up and down. I struggle to see Ben doing different kind of things."

On Trevoh Chalobah:

"No idea [about contractual issues with Crystal Palace over weekend]. I didn't even know that he didn't play to be honest."

"He's a Palace player. It's a lack of respect to talk [any further on the situation publicly]."

On Renato Veiga:

"At the moment, I am not aware that there is an agreement. Yesterday, he was here working. Today he is here. The only thing I can say, he's played well in different positions. It's allowed him to join the senior international team."

"Yeah I had a chat. I said to him exactly the same that I said to you, in terms of playing in the position he is playing that gives him the chance to join the national team and to get speculation around him."

"For me, if there is a player who wants to play in one position they will struggle, they have to adapt."

"For sure, winning games helps us to continue to win. Hopefully we can build some momentum. Bournemouth will be a completely different game. They are very tough and very intense."

On Bournemouth:

"More or less a similar one [tactical battle], in terms of they always try to be intense. It's quite clear what they do on and off the ball. They are direct, physically very strong and quick."

"I am not a fan of a full-back up and down. The full-backs that we have, we don't use them up and down. The only game we used a proper full-back was Palace."

On Nicolas Jackson:

"To continue in the way he is working. He's scored many goals at the beginning of the season. Now there are games he is not scoring. We are completely happy. We don't judge Nicolas just on goals."

On technical guidance to attacking players given you were a defender in your playing days:

"I was an attacking midfielder [not a defender]."

"It’s impossible [to keep everyone happy], two months not playing and they won't be happy. First of all, our target is to do the best for the club and the team, win games..."

That’s all from the gaffer for now!

Enzo Maresca has arrived for his pre-AFC Bournemouth press conference.

Chelsea value Renato Veiga at more than £20M and are adamant he will only leave the club on a permanent transfer this month.

[via Matt Law]

🚨FA Cup Draw: Brighton vs Chelsea

Oliver Glasner on Trevoh Chalobah’s omission vs Stockport:

“It is not easy to explain. It was a contractual issue, we had to take care. I'm not a lawyer. I was told it wasn't clear whether he could play. It was internal [as opposed to a move from #Chelsea]… I know he wants, and we want him to stay.”

[via Ben Jacobs]