Dewsbury-Hall on life at Chelsea and Conference League preview

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Dewsbury-Hall on life at Chelsea and Conference League preview  21/08/2024  Cobham Training centre, Surrey, UK

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00:00I'm joined by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to preview our Conference League fixture with Cervé tomorrow.

00:05I appreciate there's quite a few of you, so if we can keep it to one question, that would be really appreciated.

00:10Nizar, do you want to start?

00:12Hi Kiernan, good to see you. I just wanted to ask you how exciting is it to be playing in Europe and getting that opportunity?

00:19Yeah, very exciting. I've got good memories of the last time playing in Europe at my old club.

00:26It's lovely to be back in it. It's a competition that you want to play in as a player, so no matter what it is,

00:33the fact that we'll be travelling again over Europe is going to be exciting.

00:37Could I just ask you, there's been a lot of noise about the squad being oversized,

00:41but Enzo Maresco said that there's only 21-22 players in the group.

00:45How does it feel as a player? Do you feel like it's a bit of a bubble and all that noise doesn't affect you?

00:50Or do you feel that there may be too many players here?

00:53No, we're in a bubble. You can't let that sort of thing affect you.

00:57The only thing we're doing is just going out every day and training as well as we can,

01:01getting ready for the matches. Everything that happens outside is not up to us.

01:05We've only got one job and that's to play as well as we can for the club.

01:09On a human level, it's a fiercely competitive industry, we all appreciate that.

01:20There are also colleagues, maybe some of them might be friends,

01:23but how do you feel on a human level, knowing that there are players in such a large group

01:27being kept away from the first team and clearly not wanting them?

01:31How does that feel? It could be at any club, but how does that feel on a human level,

01:35when you've got friends and colleagues like that?

01:38Of course, if you've got friends in the team, you want to see them every day and you want to train.

01:45But these are decisions that we don't make as players, that's the club.

01:50As I said, it's stuff that's not in our hands.

01:54All we can do is just go and play and train. I'm new to the club,

01:57so all I want to do is make a good impression.

01:59I'm not thinking too much about players this, players that.

02:03I'm just focusing on getting on the pitch every day and playing well.

02:06How does it feel getting on on Sunday and playing and actually starting to get some football under your boots,

02:13if you like, some time under your belt? How does it feel to finally be up and running?

02:19It's an amazing feeling. It was a dream to make my Premier League debut for Chelsea.

02:26Obviously, I would have liked to win the game, but it's a tough first game.

02:31But the fact that I've made my first appearance and I'm looking to kick on and play as many minutes as possible,

02:37I wouldn't be here otherwise. So, exciting times and hopefully we can keep improving.

02:47I suppose in a way all this noise around Chelsea right now is a symptom of the transfer window.

02:53Do you just have to get through it until the 1st of September and then in a sense it will become a normal club?

02:59Yeah, I mean, probably when the transfer window finishes, then it can just be pure focus on the season.

03:06Of course, when it's open, you've got speculations. Every club does.

03:09But I think you're right, the minute it closes, everybody knows where they stand.

03:14Everybody knows what's happening within the club and we can kick forward.

03:17But that doesn't mean for the next however long it's open, we can't do that anyway.

03:22It's just about dealing with that and letting the club do what it needs to do.

03:26You may have seen or probably you did see a couple of years ago when West Ham won this competition.

03:32It's still there, it's a European trophy. It may not be the European trophy, but it's still a European trophy.

03:38Is that something that the players are focusing on?

03:41Although this might not be one of the big trophies you can win this season, it's still worth winning?

03:47100%. I mean, any competition you're in is worth winning, whether it be the Premier League or the Carabao Cup.

03:53They're all silverware, in my opinion, and they're all worth winning and having on your resume.

03:59I think, especially in Europe, any competition is big because it shows that you've done well in the Premier League to get into Europe.

04:07And as you said, teams like West Ham, it's a massive achievement, the fact that they won it a couple of years ago.

04:13I don't think anyone would be saying it wasn't a massive achievement if, come the end of the season, Chelsea won it.

04:19I know they've won the Champions League in recent years, but to add another European trophy to the resume,

04:25I don't think anyone would turn their nose up at that. So, that's definitely something that we want to do.

04:33Obviously, Chelsea will be under pressure for this tie, or pressure on your shoulders, because everyone expects you to be.

04:43Yes, probably. I feel like that's most games that Chelsea play. It's a massive club.

04:49I don't think there's going to be many games we go in that we're not probably favourites to win.

04:54So, this is just normal, but that's the pressures you have as a Chelsea player.

04:59It's just something that you have to deal with, and I know that myself and all of the players relish that.

05:06It's a good opportunity for us to go and put on a really good performance

05:10and hopefully show the fans that we're improving game by game and have a good start to this European journey.

05:18Speaking of pressure, Raheem Sterling, Ben Shieldwell, there's some big names that have been let down.

05:25Is this sort of a reality check at Chelsea, that it doesn't matter who you are, what you've done in your career,

05:31if you're not performing, if your face doesn't fit, you're out there, you've got to maintain your standards all the time?

05:39There's quite a message that Chelsea is sending in by leaving these guys out.

05:43I just think as a player, you have standards, as you say, all the time, no matter where you're at.

05:48But, of course, that's decisions that the club and the manager make, so there are probably better questions for them.

05:54But, yeah, I mean, as a player, you want the highest standards at all times.

05:58So, that's what I've always done. That's what all the players do.

06:03Yeah, hiya.

06:04Enzo has just been in here. He said he's been very honest to the players at training separately.

06:09In your experience, is that what you've experienced?

06:13He's a straight-up kind of guy who tells you how he is pretty bluntly?

06:17Yeah, and I think people respect him for that.

06:20As a player, you just want to have clarity in terms of what's happening.

06:25And he's definitely a person that gives you that, so I don't think you can have any complaints that side.

06:32But, yeah, I mean, I think it would cause more upsets in any aspect of life if he wasn't honest with people.

06:38So, the fact that he is, is a good thing.

06:40We've got time for two more, Ben, and then finish with Gary, please.

06:43Can you just explain a bit what you think Maresco is looking for in that position?

06:47Because there's a lot of players that can play, say, in that eight, advanced eight or ten role,

06:51ranging from you to Enzo Wood, Fulves Nine, the likes of Cole, Mkunku, Jawa, Felix.

06:57What do you think he's looking for in that position?

07:00And why do you believe you're the best candidate to start those games there?

07:05I mean, I think it's hard to exactly pinpoint what he's looking for,

07:09because it's a complex position that requires a lot.

07:12But, I mean, he just wants someone that's an attacking threat,

07:16that can obviously contribute with goals and assists, press well, work hard for the team,

07:21and just have an understanding of the position.

07:24So, I feel I'm as best suited as anybody for that.

07:27And I believe in my ability to the fullest.

07:31As in pre-season, if needed, are you prepared and comfortable going left?

07:35Left, what? Oh, left wing.

07:38Yeah, I mean, I'm comfortable playing anywhere.

07:41I mean, as long as I'm playing on the pitch, that's all that matters for me.

07:44So, whether it's left wing, right back, centre and left number eight, I'm happy.

07:52Gary to finish.

07:54Yeah, just again on Enzo, obviously Raheem and Ben, for example,

07:59are senior players who have done a lot for this club.

08:02You describe them as straight-talking, and that's important.

08:05But different players perhaps see things in a different way.

08:08Is there any suggestion or fear that he might be too brutal

08:11in his approach to this early in his career at Chelsea?

08:14Have you heard any sense of players saying,

08:17well, I don't really like the way they've been treated?

08:20No, I mean, I've not heard anything of that wise.

08:23Probably better to ask him and see if anyone's come to him

08:26and say he's a bit too straight.

08:28But for me, no, he's just been straight,

08:32and everyone's respected that in my eyes.

08:35Cheers, guys, thank you.

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