00:00Afternoon Pep. Just a quick check on the squad. In terms of Stones, Doku, Bob, are they available at all or are they still out for this game?
00:14Rodri has come back. Maybe he can play in a few minutes. I'm looking forward to it. And Doku maybe, Jon and Oskar now.
00:27On New Year's Day a year ago, you were a long way, but 14 points behind the leaders. How much better equipped is the squad for a title challenge now?
00:39We have seven injured players, two in the African Cup and five injured players coming back a little bit.
00:48So, in terms of squad, we are not in our best right now. It is tight at the schedule.
00:54But obviously, in terms of points, we are better than last season.
00:58Sunderland are arguably the surprise story of the Premier League in the top seven.
01:03I just wonder what you make of them and what they do well.
01:07Well, we faced them a few weeks ago. Obviously, it is incredible season.
01:12After being promoted, you can continue with the same group of players that help you or make what they have done.
01:1914 new signs. It is not easy to ensemble everything. They have done it.
01:24Reggie has done it really, really, really well.
01:27And after tomorrow's the last game of the first leg. Well, without playing against Chelsea.
01:39But the first leg, being in that position, speaks for itself.
01:46Hi, Pep. Eight straight wins to end a year to forget. Is that fair?
01:52Sorry?
01:53You've had eight straight wins in a year to forget, would you say, for how disappointing it was.
02:00Can 2026 be a more special year for you and the squad?
02:05Do you think they are feeling inside you that something could happen this season?
02:09Listen, we have health. We have a quite decent sense of humour.
02:13So, 25 was nice. So, we cannot judge the season if you win the title or win the title.
02:20But there are more important things in life than that.
02:23We try to do our best.
02:24But the best wishes for all of you for the next year is more important.
02:29That in your job you sell more podcasts or more newspapers or less.
02:34So, there are more important things.
02:37And in terms of team selection, are you aware of the concept of Pep Roulette?
02:41Have you heard of that?
02:43It's not being able to predict what line-up you'll give for a game.
02:49But this season you've named the same starting XI six times, which is the most in your time here.
02:56Has that come because of the availability in the squad or is it by design?
03:01Yeah, many, many reasons.
03:03Availability one, the second is a new squad, new players, a lot of players for the first season.
03:08And sometimes give a consistency.
03:10There are a lot of consistency.
03:11Maybe some players, new players.
03:13So, being cut regularly sometimes helps.
03:17I don't have a prediction when I start the season or even three, four days ago what I'm going to do tomorrow.
03:24So, I take a decision for the take.
03:26Yeah, it's right that Lidley played the same guys.
03:30But with the schedule that we had ahead of us, three days we arrive at 2am or 3am and two days later we have Chelsea.
03:39And after that we have Brighton, a real tough opponent, like tomorrow will be.
03:45So, yeah, we don't have much players to rotate.
03:49And, yeah, we see.
03:50We see how is my feeling, our guts with Pep and with the side.
03:55Hi Pep.
03:56From all of your years in football management, how does the work you've had to put in in 2025 to transform this squad compare to the years you've had gone by?
04:09Well, so many times last season happened a lot of injured players.
04:12The transfer window in the wintertime, we didn't have other options to do it.
04:17And it's a young squad, the youngest squad I've ever had.
04:21So, yeah, it's what the club decides.
04:24So, at the end, I don't decide alone.
04:26We decide with the club, with Chiqui, with Hugo, with Ferran, with Khaldun.
04:29And, yeah, we are where we are.
04:32And obviously a lot of progress in the last 12 months.
04:35If I could give you one wish for 2026, what would that be?
04:39When tomorrow.
04:41That's simple?
04:42That's simple.
04:43My expectations are so low.
04:45How tough is going to the Stadium of Light?
04:47Because no one's managed to win there this season so far.
04:51Sorry?
04:52In Sunderland?
04:53Yes, yes.
04:54Yeah, that means it's tough.
04:55You know, the crowd is always...
04:57I remember my first season when I went there.
05:00The crowd is unbelievable.
05:01So, yeah, they have beaten Newcastle, Arsenal, Aston Villa.
05:06I couldn't win there.
05:08So, yeah, really good results.
05:10So, it will be completely different there.
05:12But at the same time, we are ready.
05:14Pep, as we're getting towards January now, can I just check a few transfer rumours with you?
05:20Because Oskar Bob's been linked with a potential loan move to Borussia Dortmund.
05:24What's...
05:25When it's going to happen, it's going to happen just in case it's happened.
05:28So, I don't know any news about anything right now.
05:31But you'd be happy for Oskar to go away and continue his development?
05:35I'm sorry.
05:36I don't have any news and you can ask to Oskar Bob, not to me.
05:39You can also check, though, on a potential incoming, an Antoine Semenyo.
05:43Are you able to give us any information on that situation as it stands?
05:46Or does it make sense for him to play?
05:48You are from Sky, right?
05:49From Sky.
05:50Yeah, okay.
05:51Good.
05:52Well, I did have to check that, obviously.
05:53You can understand that I have to check that.
05:55No, I have to be careful what I say.
05:56After that, it's completely the opposite.
05:58But you're right and you're putting it on the screen.
06:00So, that's why I said yesterday before, in the day of the game I write today.
06:05So, the winter transfer window is completely closed right now.
06:09So, it's underline.
06:10Whether you add anyone to the squad or not, Pep, do you feel –
06:14I mean, it's easy for us to say at the minute –
06:16that it looks like the title race is coming down to a two-horse race
06:19between yourselves and Arsenal.
06:21Oh, yeah? Are you sure?
06:22I'm not 100% sure.
06:24But I would look at it and think that there's a few signals that point towards that.
06:28So, I'm going to ask how you assess it.
06:30A few weeks ago, it was just Arsenal.
06:32Two days ago, it was three title races and now just one.
06:36So, we will see.
06:39We'll go there for 10.30pm this evening.
06:43Someone to go, please. Mike.
06:45With your –
06:47With your –
06:48With your –
06:49With your –
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