NO MORE RANTS
Boss Ralph vows to keep cool at Bridge
RALPH HASENHUTTL says he will stay the right side of the line with his comments as he returns to Chelsea tonight.
His Southampton side head to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup having lost there in the Premier League this month.
That day proved expensive for Hasenhuttl, who hit out at VAR official Mike Dean after a review resulted in a red card for James Ward-prowse.
He admitted an FA charge of improper conduct and questioning the integrity of an official and was fined £20,000.
Hasenhuttl said: “I accepted the charge and the fine. It can be very difficult after the game when you do four interviews straight away after the match.
“You have to accept it because it is my mistake, and whatever comes in my direction is okay.
“I hope it will not change my interviews because I always try to say what I think about the match.
“If we have a situation where you cannot say and think things then maybe there is a problem. But I will keep going in the way I do it. I was always respectful of everybody the way I do it so far and will continue to be.
“However I will assure people that this particular incident will not happen again.”
At least there will not be a VAR tonight as the system is not used until the semi-finals.
On the match, Hasenhuttl added: “It will be a very tough challenge, but we will make it as tough as possible for them.
“There will be some changes in the team – but that doesn’t mean we go there not wanting to win.”
Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah (inset) is close to signing a new three-year contract at Chelsea after a superb start to the season.
Last year Chalobah, equally at home as a defender or defensive midfielder, was on loan at French side Lorient – after spells at
Huddersfield and Ipswich – where he caught the eye of Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
He has started five league games already under Tuchel and, after the 7-0 romp against Norwich on Saturday, is expected to face Southampton tonight.
Chalobah, 22, says watching fellow academy players Mason Mount, Reece James and Tammy Abraham succeed at the club has inspired him.
He said: “Having played with those guys for so many years, watching them gave me the motivation to know I can be there as well, to work even harder – and that gave me the chance.
“At Lorient I knew if I did well it would be a big step. I always knew I could play at a high level – I knew the ability I had.
‘‘I adapted quickly at Lorient and playing against Champions League clubs, teams like PSG, was an incredible experience.”
Tuchel is expected to rotate his squad tonight, with Danish
defender Andreas Christensen set to return to the team.