Arne Slot's pre-match press conference vs Chelsea:
Injury update
QUOTE
âWeâve got quite [a few] issues from players coming back from the national teams.
âWe can only judge that perfectly today because it is the first time they are all in, and the first time they are all training together again.
âLetâs see after the session where everybody is.
âMacca missed one game, played the second one. Kostas missed out in the first game against England. I can name them all but weâve got a few issues going on, but letâs wait and see.â
Chelsea
QUOTE
"If you look at the table it is [the toughest challenge]. Man Utd is a top club and spent a lot, same fotr Chelsea in this season but they have done really well. League table, they are the toughest [so far] but it is not always about the table, we had some troubles at Wolves too, but it is a challenge, for sure.
"Very important [to be good defensively]. If you want to achieve something we need to be stable defensively, we have done that so far. Now we face even better players. Chelsea, like United, have a lot of great players and we have to control that as a team but we also have to create our own chances too. Good thing is we have players who can score. An interesting game on Sunday."
QUOTE
"Not up to me to comment on their approach, they were successful in 2nd half of last season. If a team does that it is a good forecast for what you can expect the next season and they got some new players and a good manager in, so it is no surprise to see their results. A young team, is the first thing I see, on long-term contracts. Quality, criticism come in recent years but where they are now, they are a big threat for top 3 or 4 positions and they will be in the upcoming years."
Conor Bradley
QUOTE
"He's got a bright future, a very good player and that is what we need here. He's done, last season, really well when he replaced Trent. Trent has played a lot but Conor is a good player and normally they find their way into the team. I expect that in the future of this club."
VVD
QUOTE
"He has been crucial for us. From what you guys see on the pitch, we all see how good he still is and how much he contributes to our offensive style. What you guys don't see and I do is how important he is in the sessions, he is loud, brings quality to it. What you see at the weekend, I see in the week and that is what you want to see. He is definitely our leader.
"If you are not from Holland [criticism] might be a surprise but in Holland the Dutch media is all about that! I exaggerate a bit but if there is a chance to criticise, Dutch people in general will find a way to do it. Virgil didn't deserve this but it's no surprise. It's a surprise to hear criticism of Virgil because it is normal you have a few days off [when possible]. Some Dutch players didn't join because they were tired, so how you can criticise [Van Dijk]..."
TAA
QUOTE
"Why he played well at left-back? I only saw the free-kick. Good players will always find a way into the team if they have good team-mates, which is what Trent has at England. If you play Finland and Greece, with respect, these quality players will play well. Although they lost to Greece.
"He's been very good for us until now. He was and still important when attcking and I liked the way he has defended too. He has made a step up in that perspective. But like all the others, room for improvement, that is clear. I think he has done well for us this season and the national team too. Three times from four Man of the Match. Let's hope he will be it for us too."
Alisson
QUOTE
âItâs a bit uncommon for goalkeepers,â Slot admitted in his pre-Chelsea press conference.
âFor me, itâs common, because the goalkeeper I had at Feyenoord (Justin Bijlow) also had his issues with injuries and also muscle injuries.
âBut thatâs not what you see a lot, so these two are more an exception.
âWe are looking into it, what could be the reason. One of the things we all know is if you had one then the chances of getting another one always go up.
âWeâve tried to be really careful with him.â
QUOTE
âThat might also be something we should take into consideration,â he said.
âFor me as well, although itâs so hard to change all 11 players only because you play two days later.
âIn retrospect I might have chosen Caoimh [against Bologna] instead of Alisson, but like you said, you donât expect a goalkeeper to pick up a muscle injury.
âI know one thing, what is very good in Holland is that Iâm 99.9 percent sure that all the teams that play Champions League in the upcoming week donât play on a Sunday [before].
âThey get extra rest to be the best possible way prepared for the Champions League game.
âThat is not something that is common here in England, we just hear âyou have so many good players, you get your results in Europe no matter what, we decide the fixture list and we donât take Champions League into accountâ.â