Chelsea

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Wesley Fofana will not be available for Sunday's game after suffering a "muscle problem", while midfielder Romeo Lavia has also picked up a muscle issue but "can be back earlier" than Fofana.

• On Lavia's fitness issues: "If you compare Romeo's games this season to last season, he's already improved. This season it was difficult to go the other way, but the target with Romeo is just to try to keep him fit as much as we can. Next year, he'll play more games than this season."

• Maresca said the situation is "similar" to Reece James, who was on the bench against Tottenham: "We try to take care of him [James]. We know that in this moment, he cannot play every three days. Hopefully soon he can start to. But the main target with him, with Romeo, with Wes, is to keep them fit because we know how important they are for us."

• The Blues boss also said Enzo Fernandez is "improving a lot" and his "understanding of the game is completely different now": "He knows where he has to stay, he knows where he has to arrive in the box. I think most of the goals he scored this season with us are because he was in the right position."

• Maresca expects the game with Brentford to be "very tough", particularly after playing on Thursday: "It's difficult. We are probably the only team - [bar Tottenham] so for us it will be more difficult. But now it's also a matter of how we manage the tightness. We need to recover energy and we need to go again on Sunday."

• On the importance of results over performances in final stages of season: "Now the target is to try to finish where we have been all season. Probably the first five, six months, we were second. Probably the expectation changed a little bit, but I think overall, all season we have been top four, top five."

• He added: "We're going to try our best to finish there. [Thursday's] performance probably for you is better compared to previous performances. In some performances, I was also happy, because I know how difficult it is sometimes to break the low block when they sit back."

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We asked for your views on Chelsea's win over Tottenham in the Premier League.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Steve: A hard fought and much needed win. Tottenham were flat until the last 20 minutes. Robert Sanchez played well and is doing right in kicking the ball long more often. Chelsea are still slowing the ball down too often, but we are back in the top four and I'm happy with that.

Nick: There's no surprise the return of Cole Palmer and, in particular, Nicolas Jackson coincided with a much improved all-round performance. Chelsea played with greater verve, spirit and aggression than in recent weeks and fully deserved the win, which was more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

Clayton: What a game of football. The skill level was the best I've seen from a Chelsea team. The atmosphere was electric - we all knew how much we needed a performance and to get it against Spurs! The best game of the season. We are starting to see a fight and spirit, from defence to midfield, that got us trophies before. I'm buzzing.

Steve: Currently, this is not a good Chelsea side. The fact that they are fourth speaks volumes for the quality of the league this season. Realistically, I don't think they have it in them to fight for a Champions League place either. They need some experienced 'old heads' in the team for moments like this.

Tottenham fans

Joshua: Yet another miserable performance. We only showed signs of threat near the end of the game, by which time it was too late. Ange is hanging by his last thread - the Europa League. If he doesn't win that 'trophy in his second year', then I don't see him having a future at Spurs. It was great at the start, but now Ange's reign has to come to an end if we want to improve as a football team.

Andy: Poor Ange has been out of his depth all season. He is a one-trick pony and the best managers in the world have worked him out quickly. The players look dispirited. We have no chance of winning another game in Europe and even the Southampton game is a worrying fixture.

James: Our style of play under Ange has been so laborious, sloppy and littered with mistakes. We put up a reasonable effort but you would normally look to a manager to instil more discipline in how we play. Antonio Conte used to drill the side and we got results. That's what is missing. I'm looking forward to the summer and hopefully a new manager. Until then, we suffer.

Which player has appeared in the most Premier League wins for Chelsea?

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Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, speaking to Sky Sports about the Stamford Bridge atmosphere against Tottenham on Thursday: "It was a tough one out there but it meant everything to me - and the fans especially. The fans were amazing out there. They got us through that - I can tell you.

"It was giving the Tottenham fans stick and that was what we needed. That gave us the extra 10 minutes, the runs at the end and the boys were buzzing from it. That was amazing."

On the Blues' performance: "We felt comfortable. We knew how they play and we knew how to hurt them. Today we played really well and we could've scored way more chances.

"We're fighting for Champions League and we need to win games. To win games, we have to change style sometimes. We knew they had a high line and we have Nicolas Jackson. He's a huge threat, into feet and in behind and we know if we play to his advantages we'll score goals. Today we did score goals through that."

On his own progress: "Everyone always says I have a load of potential but I don't think potential means anything - you've got to show it every game. This season, at times, I have and at times I haven't. I need to keep progressing and learning because I know where I can be. Under this gaffer, he'll take me there - I'm sure."

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, speaking to Sky Sports after Thursday's 1-0 win over Tottenham: "The result is an important part because we are close to the end of the season. At the same time, we tried to achieve the result playing in the way we want to play.

"At some moments, the team was very good. Then, we don't work every day - we don't like to finish the game like we did in the last five minutes. If we want to become an important team, we need to win in a dirty way, ugly way and [I'm] quite happy.

"Overall, I think it was a very good performance. I think we deserved to win the game. We created enough chances already in the first half to score. In the last 10 minutes, I think the team showed effort, togetherness, spirit and it's something that we need.

"If you measure on the result, then for sure if we achieve Champions League it is an important thing but from my point of view, I try to see how we improve day by day. I can see, since the first day, the team is getting better and better."

Did you know?

• Chelsea have completed a league double over Spurs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing so in three consecutive Premier League campaigns between 1999-00 and 2001-02.

• Only the division's top two have won more Premier League points at home this season than Chelsea (31), with the Blues now winning five in a row at Stamford Bridge for only the second time across the past five seasons.

• Enzo Fernandez is the third Chelsea midfielder to score home and away against Spurs in a Premier League season after Roberto di Matteo (1996-97) and Gus Poyet (1998-99).

Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez is attracting interest from Chelsea and Arsenal. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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Big boosts all around for the Blues.

To start with, the win over Tottenham moves the club up to fourth and improves their chances of Champions League football next season.

Secondly, the return of Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke from injury is a welcome sight for Chelsea fans who know they need a bolstered squad to compete on all fronts as the season nears its end.

With 30 goals between them, those three players - despite their injury woes - have scored over half of Chelsea's goals in the Premier League this season.

Palmer showed his quality on countless occasions against Spurs, providing the assist and calling Guglielmo Vicario into a fingertip save with a dangerous cross.

Jackson, meanwhile, kept Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven occupied for the full 82 minutes that he was on the pitch.

But it was midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo who kept Chelsea ticking along and Fernandez's timely run for the goal proved the difference.

It took four minutes for VAR to cancel out the goal from Caicedo, who will be bitterly disappointed to have seen his crisp volley chalked off.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

This is a great game to finish the week off. It ended up 4-3 to Chelsea earlier in the season, and there are likely to be a few more goals this time too.

Chelsea have people like Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke back from injury to bolster their attack, but Spurs have got some key players like Micky van de Ven fit again too.

Tottenham's league campaign has been disappointing - it is winning the Europa League or bust for them - while Chelsea are still chasing the Champions League places.

Spurs looked tired to me before the international break, so it will be interesting to see what they are like here. We know how exciting they can be on their day, it is just those days have been few and far between this season.

Chelsea have been a bit flat as well, but maybe this is the game where both teams come to life and serve up a thriller - that is what I am hoping for anyway.

Sutton's prediction: 3-2

Read the full predictions and have your say

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says the decision to play Reece James in midfield is part of a plan to protect him from injury.

The 25-year-old has been involved in all but two of Chelsea's past 11 games and is increasingly playing in midfield.

However, his former manager Thomas Tuchel said he prefers Chelsea's club captain at right-back with legendary former defender John Terry echoing his words in an interview with BBC Sport.

However, Maresca says that the midfield role is part of a wider strategy to keep James, who has had 15 injuries in five seasons, on the pitch.

"In terms of data, you can see that when a full-back plays in the way they used to play, up and down, they (do that) much, much, much more (often) than to go inside, covering a (bigger) distance, for the amount of times they go up and down," he said.

"So for sure that way that we are using James, in some games, can help him.

"Last year at Leicester we had Ricardo Pereira, that he potentially could be a top player for a top team, but because of his injuries... last year with us he played all the games, we changed a little bit and that works quite well.

"With James, it's working quite well. But I said already many times, Reece with us is playing right full-back, left full-back, midfielder - different positions.

"He's not the only one. We have more players that play in different positions. So we are happy and hopefully the way we are using Reece is helping him to be fit."

Maresca also said that James is still not able to start a match every three days and is being carefully managed, adding: "We try every day to have the medical staff speak with him to see how he is. If he is able to train, if he is good, if he is not good.

"To be honest, in the last weeks, he has been training every day. This is the reason why we are happy with that and we don't want him to force and to have another problem.

"When he's fit, he is an international player - without doubt."

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Chelsea have lost just one of their past 12 Premier League games against Spurs, winning the past three in a row by an aggregate score of 10-4.

Chelsea have won more Premier League games (36) and scored more Premier League goals (120) against Tottenham than they have against any other opponent.

Ange Postecoglou has lost all three of his Premier League meetings with Chelsea - the only side he has faced without yet picking up a point in the competition. He could become the first ever Tottenham manager to lose each of his first four league games against Chelsea in charge of the club.

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Enzo Maresca has said he will continue to take Reece James out of Chelsea's starting line-up in a bid to "manage" the 25-year-old and prevent him from being unavailable through injury.

The Blues boss has said it is not viable for the defender to play matches every three to four days - and implied that he will continue to swap him in and out of the team.

"I still think that we need to manage Reece," Maresca said. "You know his history better than me. You know that he is a player you need to be careful with in this moment."

James has only played 11 Premier League games this season for the Blues, but that is still more than the 10 appearances he managed last campaign - and Maresca is keen to retain his captain's services for the rest of the season.

"We want him fit until the end [of the season]," Maresca said. "The idea is to try to manage him and then we'll see in the future if we can go every day. But in this moment, because we need him until the end, we will try to manage him.

"Reece in another team is very young. In our team, probably he is a bit old, but he is still very young."

Chelsea have nine Premier League games left but could face an additional five if they reach the Conference League final.

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Since it was announced a couple of years ago, the Club World Cup has felt very distant, a slightly alien presence on the horizon. The constant drama and chaos at Chelsea has meant that little attention has been paid to it by most fans.

But now it is getting close, it is becoming clear how big a deal this is. What initially seemed like it would be nothing more than a series of friendlies tacked on to the end of the season has taken on huge importance.

The prize money on offer is massive, which means the clubs are taking it seriously. The fact the clubs are taking it seriously in turn makes it more prestigious.

For Chelsea, who had the embarrassment of being out of Europe last season entirely followed by the almost equal shame of playing in the Conference League this season, it means a chance to face top teams in a competitive tournament.

While reaching the Champions League through their league position remains priority number one for Enzo Maresca, the Club World Cup is taking on greater and greater importance, and is turning from an odd boondoggle into the climax of the season.

The "exceptional transfer window" which will open before the tournament starts has made it even more interesting. It has become a pre-season and a post-season rolled into one.

Some very exciting new signings will now see competitive action just weeks after our final league games of this season. Instead of waiting until August to see the shiny new toys in meaningful action, fans get to see them in June.

It has prompted the club to do a lot of early business already, and their plans for the summer to follow the tournament are likely to be heavily affected by performances and results in the USA.

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says Cole Palmer having some days off during the international break was "a good thing".

Palmer missed the trip to Arsenal through injury and pulled out of Thomas Tuchel's first England squad to focus on rest and recovery.

Two weeks on, Maresca confirmed in his pre-match news conference that Palmer is fit to return for Thursday's visit of rivals Tottenham.

"The reason why he was not with the international team was that the day before Arsenal, he had a muscle problem that was not a big issue but didn't allow him to play the Arsenal game and join his international team," he said.

"We always say that going with the international team is the best thing for a player, but overall, some days off for Cole and some rest was a good thing."

Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson are also fit to return against Spurs, meaning Maresca will have all the trio available for the first time since the start of February.

"It is very good [to have them back]," he added.

"We have said many times, that this is a game for the players and when they are not there for different reasons, you struggle.

"It's exactly what happened to us this season. We had six unbelievable months and then six or seven injuries in a row. Then we lost something. But it will be good to finish [the season] with all of them."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Tottenham (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson "are all good" and ready to return from their respective injuries.

• He believes returning players can improve the Blues' form: "We've said many times, it is a game for players and when they are not there, you struggle. This has happened with us this season, where we had five or six unbelievable months and then had six or seven injuries in a row and we lost something. Now it is good to finish with all of them."

• However, Romeo Lavia remains a doubt: "He was doing better in terms of progress but unfortunately one or two days ago he had a small problem, so we will see in the next hours."

• The Chelsea boss also added that they "need to manage" captain Reece James' fitness: "The reason why is because you know his history probably better than me. He is a player you need to be careful with. We want him fit until the end so the idea is to manage him until the end and then we will see in the future if we can go every day."

• He said cancelling his players' day off after losing 3-0 to the club's under-21 side was "nothing": "Since I joined the club, I always demand high standards. It was not an official game. Some players were not here but it was normal for players to be a bit relaxed. It was nothing strange or nothing new. I didn't allow this so we decided to train."

• On Jadon Sancho's future: "I love all the players with us. In this moment, it is to finish well and not think about next season. What happens in the summer, we will see. I am happy with all the players here. For sure, he can do better in terms of numbers, no doubt, but it is not only about Jadon."

• On the climax to the season: "The attitude has always been top, every day, and even in the last week because they know how important it is from now on. Every game becomes important. We have nine games to go and hopefully we can finish well."

• How crucial could beating Spurs be?: "From that win, you can build momentum for the end. We need to win as many games as we can and we will see where we finish."

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