The full transcript from Xabi Alonso's pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Manchester United tomorrow afternoon

Xabi Alonso has just conducted his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League showdown with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are in desperate need of three points tomorrow afternoon with United, who are too craving the much-needed taste of victory again, the visitors to west London.

After Wednesday evening's defeat to Liverpool, the majority of the post-match questions in Alonso's direction were based on Estevao Willian and the fact he didn't even come on at Anfield. It's no real surprise that today's press conference was also dominated by Chelsea's little Brazilian.

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Here is every word Alonso had to say:

What's the latest with Maxence Lacroix?

Max, he picked up an injury, and we expect that he's not going to be ready before the international break. So he will be a few weeks out.

You suggested that Moises Caicedo had a small problem on Wednesday. Anything you can tell us about that?

No, no issue. He's okay for tomorrow.

In terms of Emi Martinez, is there a chance he could be back before the international break?

Yes, there is a chance. We need to still wait for next week, but let's see how things go. But there is a chance.

What's the latest on Jorrel Hato and Pep Chavarria?

Jorrel, no. But Pep Chavarria is back in the squad, yes.

How important is the game tomorrow following the last two results?

Yeah, we are back in Premier League mode, and that's for me the main competition for us this year and almost every year, I would say. And it's a big one. It's one that we didn't have that [much] time to prepare, but it's really important after the last home game that we had, that we keep winning games, that we have this winning feeling. And we know that every game is tough and we are expecting that.

You'll be aware that the supporters are desperate to see Estevao Willian play. Are there any more details that you can give us as to why he's not got many opportunities so far?

Yeah, sure, he will play. The season is long and there will be moments for everyone. It's a process for the team, for Este, for myself, but I'm sure that in the season he will have his games, his minutes. And we are still early in the season, but he will be there.

Has he shown you the right attitude on the training pitch?

Yeah, it's not about attitude. It's been about the context of games, it's been about the start of the season, and he's a great guy. He really wants his adaptation after the first year of injury, but we are still in October and he will be important.

Are the club all aligned on that, or is there a chance it might be better for him in January to maybe go on loan?

No, no discussions about that.

Is it difficult to keep Estevao happy? Do you have to regularly talk to him? He must be frustrated, isn't he?

Yeah, of course. It's no secret that all players want to be on the pitch, they want to be playing, and when any of them haven't had enough minutes because of my decision, I have to take the responsibility for that, that they are not as happy as they could. But, as well, everyone has to be ready because in any game they could be important, they could be part of the team, and Este, his training and his attitude has been good. Like Valentin Barco, like Marco Palestra, like Danny Welbeck, all these players that have not been that regular, but this is football and this is a squad and this is a team.

And does he get it? Is he the type of player that would come up to you after Liverpool and say, why didn't I come on?

We speak and we try to share our views, he does, for sure. It comes from me because he's young and I need to involve him in the conversation.

You mentioned you haven't had much time to prepare for Man United and you haven't, so how big a challenge is it to get the players right, mentally and physically?

Well, mentally, yes. Physically, for sure, one day more would have been welcome, but this is Premier League, we know that sometimes you don't get what you want. But we will be in the best possible condition for tomorrow. Mentally, we have spoken, talking about what it takes, the game for tomorrow.

And what have you learned from the last week and the last couple of games? For you it must have been quite tough as well, hasn't it?

Well, I've seen a better version of us on Wednesday than I saw on Saturday. Even the result at the end wasn't good in either, but I want to see more of a good version of us and on Saturday, for sure, we were not at our level. And this is going to be a journey where we'll have good moments, tough moments, but we need to learn from them and we are on the way from them and tomorrow is another one.

And just finally, what do you make of the situation with Michael Carrick? Do you have a bit of sympathy for him?

I have great respect, I have big sympathy for Michael as a manager. I know him because we have played against each other, recently we played in a legends game, so we chatted a little bit. He's a really good guy and you want to be around that, but apart from that, it's not for me to comment.

You just mentioned Michael Carrick there, but does this make Manchester United a more dangerous opponent for you because of all the noise in the last couple of weeks?

For me, it doesn't change. In any situation, we need to prepare the same way. We control what we can control. It's our preparation, our decisions, our mindset, knowing that they are a good team. And the same way against Tottenham, we said it doesn't matter at the table, at this moment it doesn't matter at the table, it's too early to tell. United have a good squad, they have good players, good manager, so it's going to be a tough game and we'll have to be on our top in a good version of us to win the game.

And you must have an idea what he's going through, because you're both at big clubs, you're both expected to win nearly every week. The pressure on both of you is constant...

It's no news. You know it once you take the job and you need to deal with tough moments, to overcome difficult moments. I just talk for myself and I'm sure that Michael, that's for himself.

Have you had to speak to Cole Palmer about discipline after last Saturday?

We have spoken, yes, about the game, about things that we can improve, for himself, but that's what we always do. No, I don't know how many red cards he's had. It's the first one? So we don't want that to be repeated. For him, himself, he's the first one. So we've been talking more about football, about what we need, because Cole is smart, he loves the game, he loves enjoying it, and that's the main topic that we've been talking about.

What have you learned in the last three months here?

Oh, many things. So many things. Maybe I could write half a book from these three months. So many more to come.

What's been the biggest challenge in finding that consistency and how do you go about addressing it?

We are still on the way. I think that to feel that we are consistent, I think that we need to be more regular. After the international break, we had two wins, but to be consistent in the long way needs time to feel that security of those strong principles and that you are always ready to compete at the highest level in tough situations. And we are there. I think that even in the hard games, you can take a few things, but I still believe that the Chelsea of the first day and the Chelsea to the last day of the season will be different and will be better that year.

Following a tough week and a busy week, what have you seen from the players in terms of their reaction and their mentality as we look ahead to Manchester United?

Well, as soon as we left Liverpool, we were thinking about United and today the full focus and the players, they want to be back in Premier League mode. We know how important it is, each game, and tomorrow's is a big one against United in the early kick-off.

It's a big one and United are going through a difficult spell themselves. What do you think will be the key in getting a positive result?

Many things. We need to have good control, good emotional control, be comfortable, be intense, control the quality. They have many players that they get close to each other when they have good connections. We need to be aware of that and as well, we need to be brave, personality and to play our game. The first goal, it's going to be important as well.

How's Aaron Anselmino. Is he available? Is he fit yet?

He's not available yet. He's had a few things, a few injuries and it still will take a few weeks until he's fully fit and we need to be cautious with him because he has had a few of them so he's still not there.

And just on Emi Martinez, is he going to be fitted with a face mask? Is that how he's going to be able to play before the international break?

In case he's ready to play, he will need a face mask probably.

Is this now a chance for Wesley Fofana with Lacroix out?

With Max's injury, we have Wes, we have Levi [Colwill], Josh [Acheampong], he could play as well as centre-back. Jorrel when he is back with the team but for sure Wes has played. Even if he missed the penalty, I think that he had a good game. He was consistent, he was strong and I saw many positives from his performance. We know the level that he has had and he's going to be important.