Since that Burnley game, there has been a real sense of much greater team spirit
REALISTICALLY it was a bonus point for us at Chelsea. For any team to get any kind of a result against last season’s champions at Stamford Bridge is a positive and the fact we managed to take four points off them this season is a great tribute to the players.
I do believe that, since that Burnley game, there’s been a palpable sign of a group coming together. I can feel a much greater team spirit and that shows on the pitch as well, the way the players are working for each other, the way they celebrate together.
I thought Declan Rice specifically, has shown much more maturity in his last two performances. He has come back from winning his first senior international cap with the Republic of Ireland with a lot of confidence and self-belief.
Behind the defence, Joe Hart was terrific at Stamford Bridge. There were no high fives after the game from me. I told him “well done” and nothing more than that because it is what I expect of him. That’s his job and he did it very well.
What has been thoroughly impressive from Joe this season has been his professionalism. At times it hasn’t been easy for him but he has kept his head up. Some people were putting him down but he remained working hard and his reward has come.
The competition between Joe and Adrian is really tight, though, and that is what you want — a team where players have to fight to get in and then play well to stay in.
I admit I am not a goalkeeping expert and because of the specialist nature of their job, the input of the goalkeeping coach is vital. Chris Woods’s experience as a player — he won over 40 caps for England — and then as a coach has been invaluable.
He works the goalkeepers hard and demands a lot of them. We rely on his knowledge, not only in training but also when we’re picking keepers.
Chicharito came on against Chelsea and scored a fine goal. As a plan, it worked to perfection and there is no doubt that he and Marko Arnautovic can play in the same team. They linked well together for the goal but I would point out they were both in the team when we lost to Swansea. I have to take that into consideration and my job is to choose the right players for the right games — on the right days.
Chicharito has played in other games and scored good goals but at the moment Marko would be hard to
Joe Hart was terrific at Stamford Bridge. I told him ‘well done’ and nothing more as it is what I expect of him
move aside if we are playing just one striker. We want competition, though, and Marko needs to know he has to keep his levels up and his standards high.
Andy Carroll has trained for the past few days and we might try and find a way of having him involved. Manuel Lanzini has not trained with us yet but I’m hoping that will change over the weekend and the same goes for James Collins.
We now hope to pick up a vital three points against Stoke on Monday night and I know our passionate fans, who were magnificent at Stamford Bridge, will continue to do all they can to cheer us to another positive result.
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