Every word Liam Rosenior said on fresh Chelsea injury blow, Deadline Day transfers, Arsenal tie

The full transcript from Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior's pre-match press conference ahead of the Blues' Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal on Tuesday evening

Liam Rosenior took his pre-match press conference on Saturday evening where the Chelsea head coach previewed his side's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg tie with Arsenal.

The Gunners won the first leg 3-2 at Stamford Bridge and the Blues now have a big challenge ahead of them at the Emirates Stadium to get into next month's final. In the immediate aftermath of Chelsea's dramatic win over West Ham United on Saturday night, Rosenior was already looking ahead to Tuesday evening's game. Here is every word he had to say:

Do you have a best XI or does that not matter?

I can't speak for other managers in terms of myself. I don't have a best XI. I never have done in all of the clubs that I've worked with. Why? Because of the demands, the physical demands of the Premier League or Ligue 1 or the Championship now with 46 games. You need a squad, and you need to use the players in the correct way to challenge over the course of the season. I can't speak for other managers if they have a best XI. Here at the moment, I've been in for three and a half weeks. I'm just getting to know the players; I don't have a best XI in my mind. I try and pick the right starting team, but I also try to pick a bench that will give us the right finishing team as well. So far I have to say the substitutes in every game that we've played have made a huge impact. It's not down to my tactical stuff, there's some part of that, but it's down to their mentality to come on and help the team.

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Your sides are finishing games well at the moment...

Yeah, the players are showing me that. The players are showing me that they're engaged. the players who are so important and frustrated not to start games are all coming on and having an impact. The reality is Arsenal are favourites for the tie. They're a goal up and they're at home, so they'll expect to go through. We need to take it as far as we can and as deep as we can and then the second half hopefully will be massive in terms of turning the tie around.

Can I also just check if you've been asked this elsewhere, I apologise, but is there a chance of Estevao Willian being involved?

I don't know yet, with Este, he is a young kid who has come and been magnificent. He is going through a really difficult time for personal reasons and is on compassionate leave. I won't put any pressure on him, it has to be right for him and he has to feel in the right place to perform for this team.

Arsenal haven't won anything. Can you lean into that going into Tuesday's game?

Yeah, I think my players, I look at maybe Enzo Fernandez has won a World Cup as well, as the group winning two trophies last year. They can play in big games; they can perform in big games, and it is definitely a big game on Tuesday. Talking about what Arsenal or Mikel Arteta have or haven't done. That's not my concern. My concern is resting. It's another three-game week. We need to recover. It's going to be a really physical game on Tuesday and preparing the team as best I can for that game.

You mentioned Enzo Fernandez. Where is he at?

He's fit. You see him today, arriving in the box in the 92nd, 93rd minute. Enzo's got a rare athleticism which is a gift where he can recover really quickly and his distances that he covers in terms of our data is absolutely top and the quality and the leadership he gives the team and I'm really enjoying working with him.

Obviously, Arsenal won 4-0 today but there's been quite a lot of anxiety in their own games recently. Do you look to play on that?

We'll see. We'll see. We'll go and play our game.

Jamie Gittens injury?

Yeah, Jamie unfortunately felt his hamstring. I don't know the extent of the injury. It's a real shame for him because I wanted to give him a start and I wanted him to show what he could do. so for him to come off after 25 minutes is disappointing for him and hopefully it's not too bad.

And is Filip Jorgensen injured?

He's close to being fit and hopefully it will be either Arsenal or the game after.

Mamadou Sarr? What does it say about Chelsea-Strasbourg if he returns?

I don't speak about players who are at other clubs. It's something I've never done and I won't start today.

Good results proof of your ability to do the job?

I'll be really honest, all this proof of me being right for the job or not, I don't really care. I'm here to do the job; I don't care. If we get to the final, it's great for Chelsea Football Club that we're in the final, it's not about me. I will prove in time whether I'm worthy or not, but it's not at the forefront of my mind.

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