Chelsea’s interim head coach Bruno Saltor has revealed he’s ‘never picked a team before’ ahead of the clash against Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Bruno has taken temporary charge of the Blues following the sacking of Graham Potter on Sunday night after less than seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are 11th in the table, 12 points off the top four, with European qualification of any description looking increasingly unlikely – unless they win the Champions League.
And while many Chelsea fans will have been glad to see the back of Potter, the inexperience of the man now in the dugout will have them concerned.
Brighton legend Bruno only began his coaching career a few years ago under Potter after he hung up his boots at the Amex and followed his manager to west London earlier this season.
And the 42-year-old admitted in his pre-match press conference on Monday that the game against Liverpool will be his first time picking a starting XI for a match, but he insists he is ready.
‘I have been coaching for four years and have been coaching under Graham,’ Bruno said.
‘Obviously, he has been the manager and he always had the last word. It’s quite clear that it’s not been the case [Bruno picking a team]. Tomorrow is going to be the first time.
‘I feel good. It is my duty. A duty and a responsibility. I am at a really important club and I want to try my best.
‘If I am here right now, it’s because Graham and the club thought it was the right step and I’m here just trying to help the club, and trying to be the most professional I can.
‘Obviously, it’s been a difficult 24 hours for all of us, for the staff, for the families, and now we just have to deal with the situation. It’s really important to focus just day by day, how much we can affect every day, what we can control.
‘What we can control is how we train today, how we play tomorrow and after we see how it goes.’
It is uncertain how long Bruno will be in charge for, with reports divided on whether Todd Boehly and co. want to quickly hire a new manager or wait patiently until the summer.
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