Rafa on youth, Dossena and Arsenal

Journalist: Can you tell us about Philipp Degen's injury?

He fractured his metatarsal against Tottenham - the fourth metatarsal. It's bad for the player because he's just got fit again after another injury. Now we must wait four weeks. To me, this also shows the incident was a penalty!

Journalist: This could be an opportunity for Stephen Darby - a local lad. How's he done since arriving at Melwood?

He has done well. No one can say anything bad about his commitment. Darby is a fantastic lad, a good boy who has worked amazingly since I've known him. We have been working very hard with him on things that he had to improve, and he's doing well. Now we have Darby and Jamie Carragher as options for right-back and we'll see.

Journalist: Do you know in your mind who'll play at right-back against Bolton?

We have had just two training sessions and both Carra and Darby have done really well, so we'll decide just before the game. It also depends on players with knocks and whether they are fit or not.

Journalist: It's a big step up from the Academy for players like Darby and Jay Spearing, isn't it?

It's important to see that the key to being a Liverpool player is to be good. It doesn't matter if you are English., Spanish or French: you have to be good - that's the first thing. Then if you have to decide between local players and foreign players who have the same quality, you choose the local players. It's easier because the local players will clearly have more passion. I have said that I'd be really pleased to have 10 Carras - or maybe five Carras and five Steven Gerrards would be better! But we have to talk about quality first. Look at Arsenal, for 12 or 13 years they have been using foreign players and everyone has been critical. Now they have two or three English players, everyone's saying 'this is fantastic'. But remember the 12 or 13 years. And why did they use foreign players? Because it's a question of quality. You know my idea: the academy system all around the country is not producing enough quality. That is a fact.

Journalist: Andrea Dossena has struggled since he's arrived. Is there anything you can do to help him adapt to playing in a flat back four?

When you buy a foreign player you have to be patient. Look at Daniel Agger - for the first few months everyone was going 'hmm'. They were not talking really well about him. One year later and he's the best technical centre-back in the Premier League. We can talk about players in a few months after seeing how they progress - that's when we can talk about whether they are the right standard for us.

Journalist: How much would you like to be in the position of Arsene Wenger, where you could bring in a second team and they could win?

We know we have quality players and we know they're better than what they showed against Tottenham. We are a little bit disappointed but we know the scouting department is signing very good young players. You can see Torres, Kuyt, Mascherano, Agger, Skrtel - these are top-class players who some managers or technical directors didn't know. We have a young squad and young players coming through, but they will need time.

Journalist: Has too much been made of the defeat - was it just that your team didn't play well as a whole on the night?

You have to give credit to Tottenham because they were very competitive in the first half. Then, at the end of the first period we made some massive mistakes. Three goals in seven minutes meant the game was just about over. Tactically I was thinking of changing things but I wanted to give the players an opportunity to play. When we brought Xabi Alonso on you could see the difference, but you have to give your players experience. But, at the end of the day, we are top of the league. We have to think about the league and the fact we cannot use senior players in every game during a busy season.

Journalist: Fernando Torres didn't have the greatest of games by his own high standards. Will it take him a few games to get his form back after his injury?

He has to train without problems because he hasn't been 100 per cent confident in his leg. He needs a few weeks to see what happens. He can play but the question now is: we're playing well and are top of the league, so he has to compete for his place.

Journalist: Bolton will give you a physical game. With that in mind, will you start with Fernando or is that a risk?

No, it's not a question of Bolton's physical approach. Torres is training, it's just his confidence. We have to analyse whether to use him at the beginning - and this is a good opportunity for that - or to use him in the second half.

Journalist: You've spoken very warmly about Sammy Lee this week. How is he feeling about a return to Bolton?

He is okay. I spoke to him and he said 'I am just focused on the game because it's another opportunity to be at the top of the table.'