Ruben: We have to perform at Chelsea

Although there is so much focus on next Wednesday's Europa League final in Bilbao, against Tottenham Hotspur, our head coach has made it clear that he expects whichever line-up he chooses at Stamford Bridge to promote their claims to start at San Mames.

Chelsea have high motivation to get the three points, as Enzo Maresca's men look to clinch a Champions League spot next season, but the boss, while not taking any risks with his players, is determined the Reds go in to the final on a positive note.

See every word of what Ruben said during his press conference to preview the west London encounter, which kicks off at 20:15 BST...

Hi Ruben, obviously Europa League final is the priority but between that you’ve got that game against Chelsea on Friday. How will the game on Friday help you with preparation? Is it simply getting players minutes, keeping them sharp? In what way can it aid your preparation?
“The best way is to face the game like we should face the game. We need to perform, we need to win points in the Premier League and that is the feeling. We talked about that after West Ham. We need to improve in the way we face competition, stay focused in every moment of the game because, again against West Ham, we had clear situations to score. In the first opportunity of West Ham, they score one goal. So, these small details matter. The only way I know how to prepare a final, in the normal game for our league, we must play the same way as a final.”

On that, how will you manage the occasion on Friday with the Europa League being in everyone’s mind? Do you feel there are certain players you can’t take risks with for this game or do you have to be able to get the rhythm up for Wednesday with it being a five-day gap between the matches?
“Yeah, we have time to recover. The best thing to prepare the final is to play the game [against Chelsea]. The players have to understand that if you play or don’t play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final, that is important. I’m just preparing [for] the game of Chelsea, that is my focus. We want to win and we want to perform.”

How close will your XI be against Chelsea to what it will be for the final?
“Like I said to you, I don’t know. I know the starting XI I am thinking for Chelsea, then I will see. Even the way we play there, against Chelsea, I will see it and it’s going to be important for the next one.”

So players have still got the chance to make the final even if they’re not in your mind now for the Chelsea game?
“Yes, that is clear.”

Is there any concern on your part that players will not be as focused on Chelsea with the final around the corner? And also, particularly, that they might be concerned about getting knocks and maybe some injuries?
“Again, it’s going to be a massive part, this game to the next one. So, we need to perform and they need to perform. That is the important thing. Then we are going to, the same way, if there is a player that can get an injury [and is] not recovered for this game so [it] will put him in risk for the final, he will not play. But if it’s not that situation, we will have a lot of time to recover. And we cannot spend eight days, nine days without a game. That is a bad thing for the final so I think they will be prepared for the game.”

Is there anyone kind of ring-fenced though? Who you have to keep fit? I ask that because I saw your face when you got the news about Yoro from the medic I presume [on Sunday]. Tottenham have just announced [Dejan] Kulusevski has had surgery so I guess that means he’s out of the final as well as [James] Maddison…
“Leny was the same as Matta [Matthijs de Ligt], [when he got injured at Brentford], I was thinking about the next year, the squad, if we need another guy. If he’s a long injury. That is my concern. It’s not about just the final, of course I want every player fit. Leny Yoro was in his foot, he had that problem [in pre-season], so I was so concerned about the next season, the next squad, the way we build up the squad. That was my biggest concern. The rest? We’ll be ready for the final, no matter what.”

When Leny went off, you took Luke Shaw off straightaway. Was that kind of an insurance policy almost?
“Yes, it was. It was clear we cannot take a risk with several players. That was to save [him], especially in that kind of position.”

That says a lot about what you think about Luke Shaw…
“No, it’s the history [of our injuries]. It’s not what it’s going to be, it’s the history. We have to manage the minutes, like Mason Mount. Mason Mount is ready, but we are trying to build these guys a little bit longer for them to cope. Then, in the future, they will be okay.”

You mentioned there about small margins, we’ve spoke to some of the players and they’re saying if you look at the league table, it looks as if we’re miles off the pace, but we’ve still been in games. Do you think the Premier League form is close to being [better]? Does it feel quite close to clicking?
“It’s hard to talk about that without looking like a crazy guy but if you see the xG [expected goals] for example in the last games, ours is bigger. You can see, against Wolves, we are so near and they score a goal in set-pieces. This game [against West Ham last Sunday] was the first time they reach our goal and they score, and we had opportunities. Especially in the second half. So, I can understand that, manage that, but it’s hard to talk about that in this moment. Let’s focus on finishing in a good way and then we’ll prepare the future in the end of the season.”