Zola on duo’s future, Ampadu, youth products, injury latest and the ‘biggest issue’ now facing Chelsea
Chelsea assistant boss Gianfranco Zola spoke about a number of issues at a media conference ahead of the Blues’ FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest. Here’s what the Italian had to say.
On not underestimating Forest
“Absolutely not. They’ve already done it (beaten Arsenal) in the past and although we have a good record against them it’s a team that we need to respect.
“They have some good players – the type of players that can cause problems. So we will have to play a good game.”
On the FA Cup
“I always rated this competition as one of the best. What I liked about this competition is that it’s open to everybody – people that are amateurs and play in the Sunday league, it’s an open competition.
“It feeds the dreams of many people and that’s what I always appreciate about it. And the crowd loves it. Everybody loves it.
“So I’ve always had a good feeling about it and I still keep it now, after many years.”
On how much of a priority the FA Cup is
“For us the competitions are important. We are trying to establish ourselves (in the Premier League) and we also want to do well in the FA Cup. We respect this competition very much and we’re going to try to do well.”
On injuries and whether players will be rested
“It’s a pity that this game comes in a period where we have played so many games. You have to try to save some players because some of them played quite a lot of games recently, so you have to be very careful.
“There will be rotations. We have some players that are not going to be available, like Willian, Giroud and Pedro, so there will be space for some of the younger players.
“Also you have to consider that there players who have already played five or six games in a row in a very short space of time, so it will be necessary to do a bit of rotation.”
On whether Eden Hazard will be rested
“Yes. Eden has been fantastic in this period. He’s played a lot of games and we’re very demanding of him because he’s such an influential player for us.
“I believe he might get a little bit of rest, but we are in a situation where we don’t have many players, so we will see. The idea is to give him a rest.”
On Callum Hudson-Odoi
“He’s back in full training. Yesterday he trained with the team. Yes, he is certainly available and I can say it is very much likely that he is going to play.”
On doubts over Hudson-Odoi’s future
“I know Bayern are very interested in him, but we are interested in him as well.
“We’ve been proposing him a contract for quite a while so we are waiting to see what the player thinks about that.
“We certainly value him as a player. I know he hasn’t played probably as much as he wanted but this is obviously down to the quality of the players that he’s got in front of him.
“I’ve already told the player that this (not being in the team) is not a waste of time. It’s a time in which you can really get better because you are pushed to do more and I hope Callum is using this time in the right way.
“Hopefully he will sign the contract for us. We believe he can have a bright future here.
“I believe that we can help him. We can develop him. I believe he has a future in this club.”
On Hudson-Odoi’s potential
“For 18 years old he has got a lot of potential, but you have to understand that the journey is not finished.
“He’s at an age where it’s very important to keep a good attitude. You need to use these years to keep improving.
“It’s not important to play straightaway. It’s not important to play 30 games or 20. It’s important to develop.
“He has potential to become a top player but he has to keep having an open mind to improve and to get better day by day.”
On the future of Cesc Fabregas
“Cesc is a wonderful professional. He always has been seen I’ve been here. It’s actually been one of the surprises for me since I’ve been here – how good and how professional he has been.
“I don’t know (whether Fabregas will leave) to be honest. You are asking me a question that I wish I could answer.
“I know his contract runs out in six months and I don’t know how he’s going to go. But I know if he plays he will, as usual, deliver a performance.”
On Alvaro Morata’s struggle for goals
“Mainly it’s confidence. I’ve been a striker myself and when you get into this, where you are looking for the goal all the time and it doesn’t come, you can lose confidence.
“Then the less confidence you get, the less you are going to score. It happens frequently with all players.
“I think Alvaro has to understand that for us it’s important, yes when he scores, but also when he does all the things that are important for the team.
“The goal has to be only a consequence of what you do for the team. It always helps the front players to score but you have to keep working for the team. The goal will come. It’s just behind the corner.”
On Chelsea’s lack of goals
“We have a task in front of us. Teams come to Stamford Bridge and now, 90% of the time, they sit back in the last 40 metres.
“With that task it’s not easy for anybody. I can tell you about that past; Barcelona had problem when they played against these teams.
“Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool – everybody suffers when there are no spaces up there because the opposition are all defending.
“This is something that we need to get used to. This is the biggest issue we have; for the amount of time that we have the ball, we don’t create enough goal opportunities.
“We know that very well but we also know that this is part of the process. We are not a perfect team yet.
“We are going to sort it. The players are going to get used to it. We have quality, intelligent players up the front. They just need need to adjust to the task.
“Against Southampton the other day it was not easy. One of the keys to break down a team like Southampton is to be fresh. You have to be sharp. But when you have five games in your legs and you play the sixth it’s not easy for anybody.
“It will come. I have no doubt it will come. We certainly will have to pay more attention to this because this is the task for 80% of the games.
“But once we get there, I think this team is growing so much it will be very good.”
On Willian’s calf injury
“I don’t think it’s bad. When you see somebody have a problem with a muscle you get a scare straightaway because normally it’s a long time out, but in this case I don’t think it’s as bad.”
On whether Willian might return against Tottenham next week
“I don’t know. I think there is a very good chance to have Pedro and Giroud back next week for Tottenham, but for Willian I don’t know.”
On Chelsea fans keen to see the likes of Hudson-Odoi play in the first team
“I understand that. We also would be very happy to see a young player come through.
“But you have to realise one thing; that to come through in a team like Chelsea is not easy for anybody unless you are already an exceptional player.
“By saying that I am not saying that Callum is not a fantastic player. But he’s still in a period in which he is showing a lot of potential but he has to become a footballer and he has in front of him players that are mature – we are talking about top players.
“I think it’s about patience. I believe he has a bright future with us, but right now for him it is important to get better and better every day.
“He doesn’t have to focus on ‘why didn’t I play?’ or ‘I should be playing 20 games’. It doesn’t matter. What is important is ‘what should I do to be better than Willian, Pedro and Hazard – focusing every day working on that.
“If he does that, with the qualities he’s got, I’ve got no doubt he will be a fantastic player.”
On Ethan Ampadu
“Everyone shares the same opinion; he’s going to become an important player for this club.
“He has intelligence. He has attitude. He has all the qualities to become a top player.
“As a staff we value him a lot and when there is an opportunity he will get time playing.”
