00:00 Two goals conceded in the 80 seconds of the first half. Second half better than 5-3?
00:08 Yes, good evening all. Disappointing result for us in certain moments, performance wise
00:17 as well. I agree with you, the derby started intense, both teams intense. They started
00:24 from the first moments, winning some individual challenges that gave them the boost they needed
00:30 in that moment. Our first half was not aggressive enough on and off the ball, too flat in some
00:38 moments, too passive in some moments as well, not with the dynamic we should. Even our first
00:44 pressure didn't work really well like we planned, the way they explored behind our
00:49 Harrison Reid and João Pellinho, always with the third midfielder, created some problems
00:54 for us.
00:55 Even so the game was balanced until the moment they scored the first goal, in a moment we
00:59 were too passive the way we reacted for that cross from Colvin in that situation. After
01:07 that we were punished by another mistake from ourselves. As you said, in 30 seconds after
01:13 the first goal we conceded the second, of course created a completely different scenario
01:17 for us and the perfect one for Chelsea. The quality they have on the ball, of course they
01:21 were much more confident from that moment.
01:23 We had just some things half time, I agree with you our second half was better, definitely
01:28 was better. We had created two clear chances and we have to score in one of them to chase
01:34 again the result. Unfortunately for us we didn't score. The chance from Alex Iobi and
01:38 a massive one from Sascha Lukic in the six yard box to score the 2-1 and to go for the
01:44 game again, to boost the crowd and to go for the game again, unfortunately we didn't score.
01:49 Chelsea waited much more for us in the second half, they went with a low block waiting for
01:54 some balls that we probably can lose and after for some counter attacks. We had much more
01:59 the ball in the second half. All the game I believe that you arrive in certain areas
02:04 that you should have decided much better. For me that was the biggest difference between
02:10 both sides. When they arrive in certain areas most of the time they decided well and they
02:15 created the chances. We arrived so many times in certain areas and our decision was not
02:22 the best, not with the speed it should be and of course it was more difficult for us
02:25 to create more chances during the game.
02:27 You had such a clear method of playing, creating scoring with Mitrovic, how much are you now
02:36 looking for a way of playing without him?
02:40 I think firstly it's not important for us to talk about a player that is not here no
02:45 more. We have to talk about our players, we have to talk about the game, what we have
02:50 to improve or not. If you ask me about the goals we haven't scored tonight or even last
02:55 game against Palace away from home, as I said last one I think we created enough to win
03:02 that game. Unfortunately we didn't score. Tonight we haven't created many, many of course
03:07 but with the chances we created we should have scored. It's not enough, we have to keep
03:13 working. It's not important to talk about the player ABC or D or even about players
03:17 that are not here no more. I'm here to work with the players that we have, to improve
03:21 them, to make the team grow and to do our best to win football matches.
03:25 Was the pressure on the midfield a tactical or technical thing?
03:35 I think we were not so aggressive like we should. In some moments with Ederson, Reid
03:42 and Joan too much in the same line both. Of course create a perfect scenario for Rims
03:49 or Galler to come from the high line to play behind them. Of course you have to be much
03:55 more aggressive in that type of situation, pressing high a team like Chelsea. In some
03:59 moments we did it but most of the times we haven't. Of course the goals didn't come
04:04 from that moment, it was much more situations that they beat our first pressure. They are
04:12 beating always our first pressure, it's more difficult for us to believe that is the moment
04:16 for goals. Of course after that moment the players have some doubts, should I go or not.
04:21 They didn't create from that moment, you see the way they created the first goal. The second
04:25 goal was a build up from ourselves but it was one of the moments that took some confidence
04:31 from ourselves. We planned the game to be pressing there a little bit more higher and
04:35 to be really aggressive in that moment and it didn't work out.
04:38 Do you feel the substitution has made an impact?
04:46 I believe so of course. This is always what to expect when players come in to have an
04:53 impact. I think Alex with his dynamic and Vini more fresh with his dynamic too they
04:58 created and they gave us different solutions of course. I believe that was a collective
05:04 stuff as well. I think we are more aggressive of course, Chelsea as I said dropped a little
05:10 bit and wait for us in a medium-low block every time. I think we as a collective were
05:16 better than first half.
05:17 You mentioned Castagne not getting tight enough to Cole but also the double error from Riga
05:34 must be really frustrating.
05:35 Yes, no and the first goal was not at all because Castagne of course should be tight
05:42 but it was a moment he went with Mudric and after Cole went he recovered the position
05:47 and was there. We have to defend our box much better. Not at all because Castagne in that
05:52 situation was a normal deliver, nothing really strong. We have to defend our box much better
05:58 with our two central defenders. That is clear for me not because Castagne.
06:03 The second goal of course, the way we like to build, the way we want to build, the braveness
06:08 that we want in some moments can happen. I don't want it to happen because the pressure
06:13 was not really strong in the team in that moment. You should have decided much in a
06:18 different way but it is the players are on the pitch and in some moments they don't want
06:22 to make but they can make mistakes. It is up to us to work with them, to analyse. We
06:26 are going to analyse with them for sure to show them why we lost this game, why in certain
06:31 moments we didn't decide so well like we should.
06:33 Why do you think you kept the ball better in the second half?
06:37 Firstly we were more brave, more aggressive. On and off the ball for me is clear. We were
06:43 much more aggressive. Of course you can tell me that Chelsea because they were winning
06:47 to Neal they dropped a little bit. It is part of the game as well but from ourselves I think
06:52 we were much better. Our pressure was different. More than that I think we were much more brave,
06:59 we were much more on the front foot in some moments trying to create moments, wide triangles
07:06 from ourselves. One-on-one situations out wide to create after the moments. This is
07:10 our way to play, the way we want to play. We were much more ourselves in the second
07:15 half than the first.
07:18 Thank you.
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