00:03How pleased are you for him and what sort of threat is he going to carry against your team tomorrow?
00:08Well, I'm really happy with him. We were teammates, he's an exceptional guy,
00:13a really professional guy and I'm very happy for him.
00:16He had some difficult moments in his career, he really had to show his teeth, character
00:19and probably go against the odds.
00:22I always say, no, he cannot do it and he's doing it and probably better than ever.
00:26What was he like at Arsenal?
00:28As a person, top, I think so good in and around the dressing room with the players,
00:37whether he was a starter or a finisher, when he had some long-term injuries as well,
00:42always a really positive person around the place and as a nine, I think he has everything.
00:48I mean, he could hold the ball out, he could run behind technically, very, very good,
00:52and hope that he could finish actions in the box in different ways as a top player.
00:56I'm sure you're hoping he's not too successful tomorrow, but if he ends the season well,
01:01there's a chance. What would it mean for him, do you think, if he could get into the World Cup
01:05squad?
01:05And how pleased would he be for a player of that age?
01:08Well, I don't know if he wants to be there, but if he wants to be there, I would be
01:13very, very happy for him.
01:14Yes, sir.
01:15I don't know, that's an individual reaction, I cannot judge that.
01:35And what would you make of the refereeing or grappling in the box?
01:38Because that's often grappling in the box, where obviously there's a set piece or a lot of players in the
01:44box,
01:44people are grappling and it's quite hard to referee. What are your thoughts on the way that's managed?
01:49Well, I think the referees have to put where that line is. It's happening in open play in many circumstances.
01:55There are a lot of videos flying around about that, so it's happening across the game in various phases,
02:02not only on set pieces, and yeah, certain things are allowed, certain others not,
02:07and I think it becomes difficult for the referees.
02:09And it's been reported that Nikos Drogba has this bonus clause in relation to set piece goals. Is that correct?
02:16I don't comment on those things, mate.
02:19OK, I think 5.2 is a carry first and then on that game.
02:42I haven't heard that and I don't know what the comment is and in what context.
03:08I don't know. I think we have to respect every opinion and that's it.
03:12I want to ask you about the depth of the squad. Obviously this is one of your biggest strengths this
03:18season.
03:19How do you coach differently when you have a squad this deep as the one you have?
03:23With options coming off the bench, with the possibility of having starters and finishers.
03:27How do you coach inside as a ball, now that you have a very big squad?
03:31Well, obviously being more open-minded, having more alternatives, probably preparing different scenarios as well
03:39because players' qualities are very different but they can impact the game in a great way.
03:45Constantly learning from them what is the game demanding, what they demand as well within the roles and the qualities
03:51that they have.
03:52So, always I think he helps you to evolve as a manager.
03:57OK, guys, thanks so much.
Comments