Every word from Mauricio Pochettino on Nkunku injury, Chilwell, Badiashile and Chelsea vs Fulham

Mauricio Pochettino was once again the centre of attention as the Chelsea head coach held his pre-match press conference. Pochettino has received plenty of criticism in recent days following the Blues' defeat to Middlesbrough in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Chelsea were poor in their defeat at the Riverside Stadium that led to more questions amongst supporters over the Argentine's future at the club. However, football.london understands the Blues' position regarding their head coach has not changed.

So, inevitably, there were a host of questions regarding a whole variety of subjects for Pochettino to answer in his press conference at Cobham. Below is a full transcript from the Chelsea head coach.

Team news?

"Yes, good news about Chilwell and Ben [Badiashile]. We need to assess Carney Chukwuemeka if he will be available or not. But Chilly and Benoit I think yes, for sure, they will be involved in the squad for tomorrow.

"Also the good news is that Trevoh Chalobah has started to work with the group. We need to assess day by day to see if he can help us. But he doing well. He's been training now with the group."

Good news about Ben and Benoit...

"Yes, of course. Whenever you recover a player it is important they can be involved. I do worry about the situation of Nkunku. I think it's now [been] 10 days he cannot train. We are assessing him. We don't know what's going to happen.

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"I'm a little bit worried about the situation of Nkunku but I think it's good news that players like Chalobah, Chilwell, Badiashile and Chukwuemeka. They are so close to being involved again and help the team perform."

On Nkunku, it's obviously a bit more of a setback than you thought...

"Yes because I remember my press conference after this happened. It was a small issue and it complicated and it's been between eight and 10 days [since he trained]. We were waiting for him for six months and he was so close again to feeling comfortable. He started the game against Palace and of course, disappointed with that. We want him as quick as possible to be involved again."

Talking about a couple of transfers of players who are yours, a couple going out on loan. David Fofana coming back and then going out again...

"The club are dealing with this situation. I'm sure we will announce when something happens."

To Burnley?

"I cannot say at the moment."

But we know Ian Maatsen has gone to Dortmund...

"Yes. I think it is good for the club, it's good for him. We hope he has the possibility to play more than here and I think for both sides it is a good decision."

You have a 100% record against Fulham, you personally. So that would point to you getting a victory again tomorrow – and if you do, you would go above Manchester United for at least 24 hours. Are little steps like that important?

"Yes, of course. I saw the players today and they were in really good spirits. Of course they are disappointed with the last game but that was the first 90 minutes. In 10 or 12 days, we are going to play the second-leg.

"Yes, disappointed, but at the same time, too many things happen around us after the game. Of course, we are Chelsea and we cannot afford to lose these types of games. To be honest, if you play 100 times, maybe you lose one because it's football and it's not another sport. Maybe in another sport with the same situation, you have 100% chance to win. But that is football.

"Sometimes we can learn from being criticised and being tough. We need to feel the pressure because we need to grow. The feeling of pressure, it's about to realise to do good things."

Going above Manchester United, would that be a good statement?

"For us, it's about to perform and to win. I think at the moment it's not important to be in one position. The most important [thing] is to finish above them, but I think it's important because we are going to face a very good team.

"Fulham is doing well. We saw their last game against Liverpool in the way that they played, not only in the Carabao Cup but in the league. They are doing really well and have really good players."

You say Fulham are doing really well, it was a comfortable win at Craven Cottage in October. How different a challenge are you expecting?

"I think it's a different game. They are in a really good moment. They are performing really well and have really good players. We didn't perform badly against Middlesbrough and we came from a few victories.

"I think we need to keep the momentum. It's true that it's the first-leg and we are 1-0 down but we need to keep the belief. I think the team is feeling well, is confident for tomorrow and I am so sure we are going to do a very good job."

It seems like it is one step forward, two steps back for Chelsea...

"Yeah, but the last one is the first half. 90 minutes, okay, we are losing. You see other Premier League teams are out in the same competition to Middlesbrough. Caicedo telling me, 'we lose last season to Middlesbrough with Brighton'. Many Premier League teams when they play in the cups, they lose. That is the first-leg.

"Of course, we are disappointed. We are Chelsea and we cannot afford this type of result. I think it's important to realise that we are still alive and we have the second-leg in a couple of weeks. We are going to fight to be in the final."

How much of a priority is the Premier League this season?

"Every single game should be a priority for us. We need to play every single game like a final. That is the most difficult thing, to be consistent, because we are a young team it is difficult to be consistent in every game, to perform in the same way. But we need to try.

"That is the process. That is what we knew when we accepted the challenge of Chelsea, the project. We knew this was going to happen. It's the most important thing. Of course, some situations that we didn't expect to happen have made the situation more difficult. We are going to do everything to perform and to create a solid team performance. With the time, I think we are going to be very successful. No doubt."

Have you set a target for where you would like to finish?

"Not really. I think it's really open. The target will be for tomorrow to win and get three points and prepare after for the next game against Middlesbrough.

"The most important thing now is to win games and build the confidence. We need to believe and with time, different players are going to make the squad."

We've seen players leave the club. Have there been any more conversations about transfers coming in?

"With the club, of course. I say 'the club' because of the owners – Behdad, Todd, Jose, Laurence and Paul, and of course me and Jesus. We are all in conversation. The relationship is good. We are going to do what is the best for the club and to try and perform and win games.

"We have to look after the squad and be involved with the players and the staff. Sometimes we talk about it's a new team but it's a new club, different areas of the club are new also. We need to coordinate and create a way to work and to perform also. Sometimes I don't say nothing about that but it's always good to context everything. Of course we are talking and we will decide what's best for us."

Some of the supporters were frustrated and Thiago Silva went over. Are you concerned about the atmosphere tomorrow?

"I think there is a little bit of confused of the situation, no? I think the problem was between our fans and the Middlesbrough fans. It was never the fans against our players. That was my information after the game. Adrian [press officer], can you verify this?"

Adrian: "Yes, I can verify that."

Pochettino: "Sometimes after the game, we are Chelsea, they try to find some negativity. I think it was the problem between our fans and the Middlesbrough fans."

Robert Sanchez...

"Yes, we are so happy because the evolution is very good. Today he was on the pitch running. In the next few days, he is going to do some running to see how his knee reacts. But it is a very good and positive evolution."

Thiago Silva, have you, him or the club decided about his future?

"At the moment, we are not talking with players. I don't believe the club is talking. In my opinion, it's a moment now to work together to try and perform and get the results we want. That will be between the player and the club to decide what is the best for both sides and the future. At the moment, I don't believe [so]."