Graham Potter press conference: Facing Man Utd; Chalobah for England; Injury updates

Chelsea will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they face Manchester United in the Premier League.

The Blues are seven games unbeaten under Graham Potter but face a tough test against a United side riding the wave of their emphatic victory over Tottenham in midweek.

Here's what Potter had to say ahead of the game.

Team news

What's the latest on the squad?

“We are still in the process of recovery; pretty much as we were with Brentford. Conor [Gallagher] trained today so we will how he is over the 24 hours. Apart from the long-term absences, we’re pretty much where we were.”

And with Reece James?

“The first thing is he's in a brace for four weeks to stabilise the knee, then it's rehab. So that will take, as we said, around eight weeks. That's the latest.”

Where does Denis Zakaria fit in your plans?

“We’ve got a squad of 24 players and we’ve used a lot. In that position, there are quite a few good players so he has had to stay patient. But he is competing, fighting for his place and is ready to help the team if he needs to. No matter how a season goes, there is always going to be a question about an individual because you can’t play everybody.

"He’s been a little bit unfortunate, he’s done nothing wrong. At the moment, he’s not had the game time I’m sure he would like but he’s acting well in training and is ready to help.”

Man Utd

What have Man Utd changed since your Brighton side beat them on the opening day of the season?

“A lot. I have huge respect for [Erik] Ten Hag, the job he’s done in his career, and his quality as a coach. You can see people adapt and adjust as they go into the competition faze. So they have done well. Obviously, it wasn’t a great start from their perspective but they’ve battled back, got points and played well. It’s going to be a tough game.”

Have you noticed any differences?

“They’ve changed a little in how they build-up, they are a little bit more direct. At the same time, they have the same quality. The have the threats of [Marcus] Rashford, Antony, [Jadon] Sancho and Bruno Fernandes plays a key role for them. So there are a lot of similarities but they seem to have adapted to the competition, adapted to each other, learned more about each other. It’s a normal process really.

"I’d been at Brighton for three years when we played them and Erik had been at Manchester United six weeks if that, so there is a lot of learning you need to do and a process that you need to go through. That’s normal. He has the quality and naturally, they will get better and better as time goes on.”

Cristiano Ronaldo

What do you make of Ten Hag's treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo?

“I can’t really comment because I don’t know the ins and outs but he has taken his stance, sometimes you have to do that, and then you need the club to support. From the outside, that is what has happened.”

Could Ten Hag have done anything else?

“It’s difficult for me to comment because I don’t know the actual context and I don’t know what’s really happened. I don’t want to go off headlines and things like that. Part of the job is to take decisions that are difficult but that is normal.”

Trevoh Chalobah

Can Chalobah make the England squad?

“I’ve been very impressed – and from day one I have to say. He didn’t start in the first couple of games but acted perfectly. He trained really well and was very professional and determined. He is an impressive character and very focused on his football. He wants to play, wants to help the team, wants Chelsea to win.

"So he is great in that regard and is a bit of a soldier. He has played in all the games because we’ve been having some problems in terms of availability for players, but he has stood in for us and is performing at a really good level. I’m not surprised he is getting that [England] link but thankfully that isn’t my decision, that is somebody else’s."

Do you think he is at that level?

“Well, he is playing every week for us and that is a decision for Gareth [Southgate] to make and not me.”