Enzo Maresca appeared confident as he addressed the media after Chelsea's 1-1 stalemate with Crystal Palace. Cole Palmer put the Blues ahead with a first-half goal at Selhurst Park, but Jean-Philippe Mateta's late equaliser ensured the points were shared.
What does this result tell you about your Chelsea team?
"We probably did enough to win the game today. Between the first-half and the second-half, we probably created enough chances to win the game. But in football, you need to be clinical otherwise the game is always open, especially in this stadium; any transition, any corner boosts the energy for them. Unfortunately at the end, we concede but overall, we did enough today to win the game."
It's been four games since you won, what does it tell you about the mentality of your team?
"Two or three weeks ago, we were talking about the title race. I never thought [about the title race]. We knew that Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City would be there, so for me, it's not about the table, it's about how we can improve things.
"The performance today was very good on and off the ball. I knew at this moment in the season, it is going to happen in every season that some teams are not going to win some games. The reason why, I think every game is different. Sometimes I think for one reason and sometimes for another reason.
"But today, if I had to decide the reason why we didn't win the game; we need to be clinical when you have the chance to kill the game. Because if it's 2-0, the game is probably finished but if you continue to be open, open, open, you are likely going to concede some transitions and some corners and then you can concede."
You haven't made many changes in recent games. Is there a reason for this?
"No. Now we change, let me ask you; which player would you change today?"
You had Nkunku and Felix on the bench...
"Yeah, but for who?"
I don't know... (laughs)
"I know that is my job but sometimes when we do some changes, it is because there is one that is not good enough and we change for another one. Or simple, one that is playing is tired and is not pressing good. Today I think the 11 on the pitch were all good.
"Pedro [Neto] was very good, Jadon [Sancho] was good, Nico [Jackson] was good, Cole [Palmer] was good, Enzo [Fernandez] was good, Moi [Caicedo] was good, Levi [Colwill] was good, Josh [Acheampong] was good... make change for change, I don't like. I like to make changes when we know the reason why and the reason why we changed Nico was because he was pressing and was a bit tired. Marc [Guiu] was fresh, new energy, and it is exactly the same with Noni for Jadon. This is the reason why."
Tell me about your decision to give Josh Acheampong his first Premier League start...
"All the players, for me, were good today but if I had to decide for one, I think for sure, Josh was our best player because of his age, it was his first game. Josh, for me, can be a top player for this club but he needs the right path, the right moment; for young players, you need to decide which moment."
"We decided today because we think he showed that he was ready. Today, I think he showed how good he is. Because of his age, he needs to slow down, work hard and take his next chance."
Does it show how much you trust him? A lot of people are saying for you to sign another centre-back...
"Yeah. Even if we don't decide to buy players or sell players because Josh has shown he is good. We already knew Josh was good enough. Probably with Wes [Fofana] and Benoit [Badiashile] injuries, we will see if something is going to happen."
Is there an opportunity for a refresher with the FA Cup third round coming up?
"Yeah. For sure, for sure. They just told me now: After September, this is the first week that we have an entire week now. So we have a chance to work this week, prepare the FA Cup game and then the Premier League."
Is it important to regain some momentum now with the top four race heating up?
"It's going to be like this until the end. We can be sixth or five in the table, we can be third or second again but at the end, it is going to be until the last two or three games. When we arrive there, we will see."
What do you do to improve how clinical your team is?
"First of all, I always say the important thing is to create chances. If you create chances, then you are doing the right things. Then you need to take those chances. I think if you think about Ipswich game, we had so many chances there. Sometimes it is football."
"Sometimes you create and score, sometimes you create one chance and you score one and sometimes you create 10 and score two. In this moment, it is like this. What can we do? We could try to be even more intense during the week when we prepare the game even if the intensity and the intention of the players is top. For sure, it is something we need to improve, thinking we are one of the two or three best teams at scoring goals at the moment."
How close was Romeo Lavia to being ready?
"Hopefully the next game he can be involved."
Nicolas Jackson wears his heart on his sleeve. How do you pick him up with one goal in six games? He missed good chances today...
"For a striker, sometimes all the chances they score and sometimes they have chances and don't score. The important thing is Nico today had two or three clear chances - so he is there, he is ready and hopefully next time he can be a little bit more lucky but overall, I think Nico did a good game today."
