- 5 weeks ago
14/12/25
The City Ground, Nottingham, UK.
The City Ground, Nottingham, UK.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Did you both have a few experiences you could argue with that?
00:30The distance is, the pressing lines, the connection between the players off the ball was excellent, I thought, and left very little areas for them to work in.
00:39I was really, really pleased with that.
00:44Yeah, I think overall, because like I said, the balance of play, you know, when we had to defend, we did.
00:49And then when we could play, we did. When we had to clear our lines and do the basics, we did.
00:53And, you know, everyone's looking for the right decisions from players and they've certainly made a lot of very good decisions today.
00:59The three things I've worked with the players on, there's only three things that can happen in football.
01:02You've got it, they've got it, and no one's got it.
01:04And we've got all of them right today, in my opinion.
01:06When they've got it, our shape is good, our willingness and desire to press and compete.
01:10When we had it, we found different ways of operating to go and open up them.
01:13And then the bit in between, when the ball's bouncing around, who's going to win it?
01:16You know, who's got the fight in them to go and win it?
01:18And I thought we did that fantastically well today.
01:20Can you show aside the way of the game you could play, you know, really attacking football?
01:25Well, we didn't come here to not attack, by the way.
01:28So, I'm not bothered about that, he doesn't matter to me.
01:33Yeah, it's just the way it goes.
01:37I've always wanted to play.
01:38You know, you've got to work with the players you've got.
01:40And I think I've always tried to look at it and give them a chance of being the best them.
01:44You know, not the best for me, it's not about me.
01:46I've never tried to look at my brand.
01:47I just look at the players and go, right, what's the best way of you operating to be successful?
01:51This is a different group.
01:52I think there's a real talented group here and I've said that all along.
01:55But you've still got to do the basics, the hard yards, win your headers, win your tackles, win your races.
01:59I told them that at half-time.
02:00Sort of stuff that, you know, your Sunday league coach told you when you cared.
02:04I'm not bothered about that because it's so important.
02:06And I thought we did all them three things and showed the quality of the players today as well.
02:10There was a lot of individual performances.
02:11Obviously, we have to mention Sangari too.
02:13He's brilliant.
02:14He's obviously going away.
02:15Yeah.
02:16Sonny specifically, you know, he's really emerging as a good player.
02:19Yeah, he's done well since we've been out.
02:21I thought Elliot today was me for outstanding because as a manager, we look at the game differently
02:25and he did all the nuts and bolts I've been mentioning in the last few weeks.
02:27They said about his development, doing the hard yards, getting in the right positions,
02:31getting in the right pressing lanes, breaking the game up.
02:33We know he can play.
02:34I thought that was our thing.
02:35Igor's learning all the time.
02:36You know, he played strong today.
02:38Callum's come back in, done well.
02:40You know, Amari's doing well.
02:41You know, there's so many.
02:42And then the players on Thursday played as well.
02:44So I knew when I come in here and I spoke to the players, it's got to be a squad mentality.
02:48It can't just be the team or the 11 that are playing.
02:50It's hard to pick 11 because you've got to let people down.
02:52But this is not so difficult in the sense that they are playing football because of all the games.
02:57But equally, everyone's got to know their roles and responsibilities whenever they go in the team.
03:00And I was absolutely delighted with that over there.
03:02And then, you know, the last game over at Utrecht and then today.
03:05Sean, I take on board what you just said about it being a team thing.
03:11When Sangare was signed, Boris really hoped he was going to be a key figure and a table figure in his side.
03:16Are you seeing signs that he can be that?
03:19Well, he's certainly put a shift in for us.
03:21And we know he can play.
03:22We know he understands the game.
03:23And I think previously he's had a few injuries as well, which has maybe cost him.
03:27I've enjoyed working with him.
03:30He works hard on the training pitch, comes in with a smile, you know, and gets on with it.
03:34And, you know, he's one that's certainly shown what he can do.
03:37And he continues to do so with a great goal today.
03:39There's a lot of players over here.
03:41I mean, you know, I could wax a lyric about so many today on a day like today.
03:45I mean, I thought everyone was absolutely top draw.
03:48And then the players who played on Thursday as well.
03:50I thought that was a very strong performance.
03:51You know, another day at halftime you're 3-0 up and the game's over.
03:54It wasn't, but the mentality was absolutely clear to see we were still going for the win and we got the win on Thursday.
04:00And today the mentality was good.
04:02And I've been really, really pleased with the players and they deserve a lot of credit for that.
04:05They've been through a lot of different changes.
04:07They've accepted this change with me and my staff and they've accepted the work they've been doing.
04:11So Gary's goal was a good finish, but it was also a great team goal as well.
04:15Is that kind of solid fire what you want to see?
04:17Yeah, I prefer them boring 1-0s, you know.
04:19It's far too exciting when they start passing it around and knocking the goals in like that.
04:23No, but it was a fantastic finish, you know.
04:25And I said to him, our game plan today was actually a more generalised game plan.
04:29Framework and freedom.
04:31Your framework's got to be right.
04:32You know, the understanding of the framework, the tactics and the delivery, sorry, of tactics is so important.
04:37But then the freedom to go and play.
04:39And I was really pleased with that, the anticipation of each other in possession,
04:42the anticipation of working to get the ball back and then delivering that first pass.
04:46And if you get your first pass away, you're often in a position where you start connecting.
04:49And I was really pleased with that today.
04:51Sean, how nice to have a clear week next week, which has been put on since coming in midweek, weekend.
04:57Yeah, yeah, I think it's important.
04:59We have got, and then we've got loads more games coming, which I reminded the players of,
05:03but they definitely need some downtime.
05:04It's finding the balance between the hard work that I think was needed to get them to where I want them.
05:08To get them to where I want them to be.
05:10But then the rest and recuperation to make sure they can deliver that hard work.
05:13So this week is a bit of a free week.
05:15A couple of days after, then we'll be working, ready for the next game.
05:18I mean, look, you become resilient from what you do, you know, and it's, you know, it's not a pure business professional football, you know, there's going to be challenges for players, challenges for myself.
05:40But you have to see through them, make sense for them to move on again.
05:43And I think they've been really good with that.
05:44We've had two.
05:45Well, the first one against, well, we were just flat.
05:47You know, the levels are what I'm at, weren't there and they couldn't deliver.
05:50Then when everyone was a really poor performance on the ball, off the ball, all the three things I said wasn't good enough, but they responded really well in the week and then responded well again today.
05:58So the best thing as managers and coaches when they, you can clearly see they're listening and they're, you know, delivering.
06:03I mean, that's what we're all looking for as managers.
06:05Are they listening?
06:06Are they delivering?
06:07And today was a clear sign they are.
06:09Sure.
06:10Obviously, you've carried away because of the situation in the table.
06:17Well, you must look at the squad and wonder to yourself how it was even in that situation in the first place.
06:23I don't know.
06:24No, no, no.
06:25No, no, no.
06:26About what's going on before.
06:27No, but the thing is I've said to some of the players though, you know, football now for me is massively misinterpreted with signings.
06:34You know, because everyone goes, oh, they bought this player for a lot of money.
06:36He must be brilliant.
06:37It doesn't matter anymore.
06:38They don't have to be brilliant anymore to cost a lot of money.
06:40You know, you either pay it or you don't.
06:42And I think they've signed some good players, but they're equally players who are learning about the Premier League.
06:46Not many of them coming here with 50, 100 game Premier League experience.
06:49Premier League's a different league.
06:50I'd have to speak to some of the players individually.
06:52You know, say, look, don't over question yourself.
06:55Amari was one.
06:56Dallon Doyle, I think, is working terrifically hard.
06:58I said, you know, it's not easy to come into the Premier League and just go bang.
07:01That's it.
07:02I'm a Premier League player.
07:03So it does take a bit of time.
07:05And time's the hardest commodity as a manager.
07:07And for fans as well.
07:08Because the expectation rises when they see a fee.
07:11You know, that's it nowadays.
07:12So I don't see that.
07:13I just go, look, don't forget about the fee.
07:15We'll teach you and hopefully you'll learn from us about what the Premier League requires.
07:19I don't think there's signs that they are doing that.
07:22I said, yeah.
07:23I'll have to look at that back.
07:24I'll have to get VAR to have a check on that.
07:25Not my style.
07:26I'm disappointed in myself if I got involved in that nonsense.
07:27Trust me, but.
07:28No, I'm enjoying it.
07:29I mean, it's a challenge.
07:30It's quite obvious the challenge.
07:31So many games and injuries and all that.
07:32But, you know, still, you've got to find enjoyment from it.
07:35And, you know, you've got to get back on it as quick as you can.
07:37I said, yeah, I'll have to look at that back.
07:39I'll have to get VAR to have a check on that.
07:42Not my style.
07:43I'm disappointed in myself if I got involved in that nonsense.
07:46Trust me, but.
07:47It was a curious sign that you're enjoying yourself.
07:49No, I'm enjoying it.
07:50I mean, it's a challenge.
07:51It's quite obvious the challenge.
07:53So many games and injuries and all that.
07:55But, you know, still, you've got to find enjoyment from it.
07:57You know, I think the collective mental sort of attitude has been fantastic since we came in.
08:02The fans, you know, the fans, they play their part of the team.
08:06Everyone's responding to what we're trying to offer them.
08:08Because without that, you can't do it as a manager.
08:10You know, you need the players to respond to what you're trying to guide them towards.
08:13And I've been really, really pleased with that.
08:15Sure.
08:16You mentioned time as a manager.
08:17You know Tom has spent very well.
08:18He spoke very well in your friendship before this game.
08:21It feels like he's struggling to get that consistency at the moment.
08:26Does that surprise you at all?
08:28No, but you bring new ways in.
08:29It's not just click your fingers with a group of players.
08:31They sign players.
08:32You've got to re-educate in your way.
08:33That doesn't mean no disrespect to any other managers in your way and your style.
08:37And it takes time.
08:38But time, there is no time now.
08:40You know, hero to zero every week now.
08:42And that's just the way, the nature of the world, not just football.
08:45You know, so you just roll with the punches, you know.
08:48And he's a very, very bright football man, I think.
08:50And he knows what he's doing without a doubt.
09:06No, I just think the modern game has changed.
09:08Well, actually, this year it's changing again because there's more long balls than it has been in years in the Premier League.
09:12You know, at the end of the day, people have changed.
09:15You know, people see goals go in and they go, yeah, but that's part of their philosophy.
09:18I'm going, how about changing that and stopping the goal going?
09:21And personally, that would be my belief.
09:23But that's up to them.
09:24It's up to other managers, up to fans, what they want to see, how they want it to go.
09:27I always like the bit when you win.
09:29That's my favourite bit.
09:30So that's all I try and do is create teams that can win.
09:33John, you've come to me and say for a while he wanted to score more goals.
09:37Was it pleasing to see him get to?
09:39Yeah, really pleased.
09:40I mean, you know, we know he can do that.
09:42I mean, the second one cross shot is irrelevant because it's still a great delivery either way.
09:46It goes in, so it's a shot.
09:47If it doesn't go in, it's still a fantastic ball in.
09:50I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because I know he scored them type of goals before.
09:54He's working hard.
09:55He's working very hard out of possession.
09:57I think that's a key thing for him to keep developing that side of his game and the tactical and the standard.
10:01And he's doing very well with it.
10:03Yeah, unfortunately, he's got a knee.
10:07It's nothing serious about it, scan everything.
10:09But his knee blew up with fluid in it.
10:10And I think it was a cyst behind his knee.
10:12And because we've got this eight days, we can't, you know, it's like we're going, you know, if he gets injured, if it goes worse, then that's all over the period.
10:19And Dom's the same, you know, we looked at him and said, well, what do we gain against what do we lose?
10:24You know, if it flares up again.
10:25So we just have to be cautious.
10:27And that's been a really big challenge for me as a manager.
10:29Dougie's done great.
10:30I mean, Dougie really, I wouldn't have played him the other night generally, but I spoke to him about it.
10:34He was happy to, because there's always a risk and reward and you don't want to put players at risk.
10:38I would say fit for task, not using the task to get fit.
10:40So that's my way of working with Dougie.
10:42He's been probably the hardest one when I've had to go, shall we or shan't we?
10:46But he was absolutely clear-minded and pleased we've got half a football for him there today as well.
10:54We'll wait and see how it settles, but it's certainly a better chance than if he'd played today.
10:58John did brilliant though.
10:59Fair play to him, you know, clean sheet, yeah, did fantastic, yeah.
11:02Thank you very much.
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