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  1. 'We will be adaptable'published at 14:52 BST

    Nottingham Forest v Coventry City (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    Coventry City

    Coventry City boss Frank Lampard on formation: "We will be adaptable because I think it is important. You have a look at the opposition and you see what you feel is the best opportunity to try and get the best out of our team."

    Frank LampardImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Human nature to feel down'published at 14:50 BST

    Nottingham Forest v Coventry City (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    Coventry City

    Coventry City boss Frank Lampard maintaining momentum: "We just have to because it is football. We have been privileged for a while to win a lot of football matches here and I know we bought new players in but of course it is more difficult when you don’t, that makes the job of all of ours tougher because that is what we are here for and what you want to do and sometimes it is human nature to feel down but we just have to focus on the work that we have got to do to keep trying to improve, to keep trying to get results."

  3. Amenda unavailable with calf injurypublished at 14:47 BST

    Nottingham Forest v Coventry City (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    Coventry City

    Coventry City boss Frank Lampard on defender Aurele Amenda, who picked up an injury after their League Cup defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday: "He has got a calf injury and he will be scanned over the next 24 hours or so. I would expect not available [for the weekend]. It is a blow because he is a player that we managed to acquire early in the summer window that we like and he has come in and made a really good impact around the place, on and off the pitch. He is a good player and will get better with more games and game time in the premier league so it is a blow to lose him as I said what he has shown but it is what it is."

    Aurele Amenda,Image source, Getty Images
  4. Postpublished at 14:45 BST

    Coventry City

    That's all from Xabi Alonso. Let's move from the current Chelsea boss to a former Blues manager.

    This morning, Coventry manager Frank Lampard spoke to the media as his side aim to improve their pointless, goalless start to the Premier League season away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.

    Here's Lamps...

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:42 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Interpretation. Pedro is playing on Friday. It's a tough fixture so they 100% need him.

    David, Bradford

  6. Chelsea academy trio train with first teampublished at 14:40 BST

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

    Academy prospects Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Watson and Tayo Subuloye have been training with Chelsea's first team this week before Friday's Premier League meeting with Brentford.

    Watson, 16, made his debut in last week's 6-3 Carabao Cup win over Leeds. However, Nicoll-Jazuli, also 16, and 18-year-old Subuloye are yet to make their senior competitive debuts, despite featuring in pre-season friendlies under Xabi Alonso.

    The trio were notably absent from Chelsea under-21s' EFL Trophy defeat by Wycombe Wanderers in midweek, having instead trained with the senior squad.

    It remains to be seen whether Alonso will include any of them in his plans for the Blues' final match before the international break, against Brentford on Friday night.

  7. Alonso on Palestrapublished at 14:37 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Marco Palestra: "For sure the adaptation is through the competition, sometimes you can take it gradually but other players need to go straight to the competition, to have a good impact, to learn quick and we will be there to help Marco.

    "He is young, he has a lot of energy, a lot of potential and the step is big. He has a lot of qualities that we are looking for and he has to adapt well to the Premier League."

    Marco PalestraImage source, Getty Images
  8. Postpublished at 14:35 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on set pieces and coach Austin MacPhee: "We want to have top specialists in each area in terms of offensive in set pieces and Austin has this experience, a great experience in the Premier League. He is helping us a lot and we have trained, we always try to prepare for the games and knowing what we are facing tomorrow."

  9. Postpublished at 14:32 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on the Premier League and whether Arsenal is above the rest: "It is too early to say. For sure, Arsenal and Man City have won all their games so far but there is still so many games.

    "I knew, but once you live it, you realise how tough it is each game, how tough it is to win. You can't take for granted any game.

    "You need to give your best level because you get punished when you are not. We have experienced that but I think there will be good moments for all the teams and bad moments for all the teams."

    Chelsea boss Xabi AlonsoImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 14:29 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on the extended international break: "It is what it is so I try not to get frustrated with things that are out of my hands so I can't control them. We have already spent some time together and we will have more time to spend together.

    "There is no Christmas break here [in the Premier League] so we will be here together at Christmas as well. There will be plenty of games, so we have taken some steps forward and many more to take forward."

    Xabi AlonsoImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 14:25 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Moises Caicedo in the international break: "I don't know if he is in the squad for Ecuador but I am focused on when he can play for us, with Moises and that is my concern. The other things, I don't control.

    "It is international duties, sometimes you can't control them so we will see what happens."

  12. 'Good old days'published at 14:22 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on facing Keith Andrews when they were both players: "Good old days. I remember enjoying playing against Blackburn, the few times that we had to play there. Most of them are good memories from my playing days in the Premier League."

    Xabi Alonso facing Keith AndrewsImage source, Getty Images
  13. 'It's going to be a big test'published at 14:20 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on how he has set his team up to combat Brentford's set pieces, long throws and fast transitions: "Yes they do that very well but not just that. They do other things, not just the transition, not just the set-pieces.

    "I think it is a team, a club that has developed the project and the game very well. They are very complete in many aspects, with or without the ball. And playing there, you see the numbers, they have great strength playing at home so it is going to be a big challenge. I saw the game from last year, you learn everything and tomorrow is going to be a big test for us."

  14. Postpublished at 14:17 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on balance and Moises Caicedo's presence: "Moises is one of the top midfielders in the world. And for sure anything with him in the middle is a better team and we are aware of that. But at this moment we will see tomorrow.

    "He has not been able to play so we have had to cope with that situation and when he will play, we will benefit from his qualities, his balance, his presence. I think that he is very inspirational for the players and they are looking forward to it."

    Moises CaicedoImage source, Getty Images
  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:14 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    I'm with Jim from Kent! Saying Pedro might play against Brentford when he's already withdrawn from the Brazil squad? Just give us good news or put us FPL managers out of our misery please!

    Lesley, Aberdeen

  16. Postpublished at 14:11 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Joao Pedro missing another opportunity with Brazil after he was left out of the World Cup squad: "He has moved on from the summer, from the World Cup. He has this strong desire, determination to have a great season so far. So the summer is far away now.

    "He will be in the future for sure [selected for Brazil]. I am pretty sure that he is going to be."

    Joao PedroImage source, Getty Images
  17. 'The defence is all the team'published at 14:08 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on his defensive changes: "The defence is all the team it is not just the back four or the back five whatever. It is about the team, it is how we compete, how we adapt to the different moments when we take the lead or when the game is even.

    "We need to have the same mentality to be competing in different moments. We know that the Premier League is very difficult to control the whole game. But, to be able to adapt, to feel that you have the awareness that is needed, it is very important for sure.

    "I've had four or five weeks since we started, this is going to be the seventh game in this block. It is an important one because it is before the international break, because it is Premier League, because it is away against Brentford.

    "It's always tough so we will have to play with a high demand game."

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:05 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Are you being serious Alonso!? We NEED to know the Pedro situation for our FPL teams!

    Jim, Kent

  19. Postpublished at 14:02 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Marco Palestra and Jordan Henderson: "Tomorrow, final decision. Sorry I am repeating, but your questions are the same.

    "The players know everything we need to assess, all the decisions with the last training and tomorrow we will take the decisions for the game at Brentford."

  20. Wait and see on Jamespublished at 14:00 BST

    Brentford v Chelsea (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Reece James not being involved in training on Tuesday: "It was just a decision for Tuesday. We will see his development and tomorrow we will decide."

    Reece JamesImage source, Getty Images