00:00Hi Michael, can I just, before we get into it, can we start with some team news or updates at
00:04least.
00:05Matthias, how's his rehab going?
00:08Similar really.
00:11Frustrating for Matt there I think.
00:13He's obviously trying to work towards getting back but just the back issue really, that's proven difficult.
00:20So we'll keep working as hard as we can with everyone to get him back as quick as we can.
00:26Similar for Lissandro?
00:28Yeah, he's closer, a lot closer.
00:33Yeah, he's getting there so after this one I think he'll be all right.
00:37Patrick Dorgue, I guess it's the same question.
00:40Yeah, he's a bit further down the line.
00:42I'm told there was no Maserou in training, is he okay?
00:45Yeah, he's just ill, just wasn't feeling too good today.
00:47Should be okay for Friday.
00:49And Mason was back on the bench, didn't come on.
00:53Do you expect it, is he closer to being possibly up for starting or is he already?
00:58But for starting, fitness-wise?
01:00Starting would be too much I think at this point, just for the training time and the kind of exposure
01:08that he's had really.
01:09But it's brilliant to have him back.
01:11He's a fantastic player, Mason, and great to have around the group again.
01:15So we're delighted to have him back.
01:16And obviously the break coming up now gives him a chance to get even more up to speed.
01:20So in some ways that's come at a good time for him.
01:23I think that's pretty much everyone.
01:24So can I ask you about Bournemouth this Friday night?
01:27They seem to be the draw specialists at the moment, don't they?
01:30What are you expecting from them on Friday?
01:33Yeah, I mean, it's a tough game.
01:35It's a tough place to go.
01:36They're on a really good run of form.
01:39So, yeah, difficult game.
01:43We're obviously going down there, we've had a good run and the boys are in good shape.
01:47But, yeah, always a difficult game.
01:51Always has been and probably always will be.
01:53So we know that, you know, they're a really good team, well coached and really well coached and good energy.
01:59So we know we'll be in for a game down there on Friday.
02:04Afternoon, Michael.
02:05I know we've asked you a lot about Kovimane since you've arrived.
02:08But I just wonder, since you have been back at the club, what have you made of his actual performances,
02:13especially in recent weeks?
02:14And what areas do you see him still as a young player that he can improve on as a midfielder?
02:20Of course, he can always improve on a lot of things.
02:23It's just the age he's at, just for starters.
02:25You know, there's so much more to come and develop.
02:28And that's just natural.
02:29That's not a negative on Kobe by any stretch.
02:31That's just the stage he's at in his career.
02:34So hopefully he has got a lot of layers to improve and keep development on that.
02:39I think he's done really well.
02:42I think, you know, not having a lot of football for a period of time to come in and play
02:48a run of games and find your rhythm.
02:50I think he did that really quickly.
02:51And there's a natural kind of a flow, really.
02:55And I thought he was really good again on the weekend and putting in a performance where he did a
03:02little bit of everything, really.
03:04And controlled the game and spells, defended when he had to defend.
03:07And a really impressive one.
03:10I know we asked you about Harry Maguire last week and you said you hoped he could get called up
03:15for England with the announcement on Friday.
03:17I just wondered about Kobe and also Luke Shaw.
03:21Do you hope they can get themselves back into the England picture come Friday?
03:24Have you been in touch with Thomas Tuchel at all as well?
03:28No, I haven't been in touch, no.
03:31Yeah, for the boys, I'd love to see them picked and picked for this one and obviously picked for the
03:38summer.
03:40I don't have any influence on that, but certainly the boys, the way they're playing, I think they've put themselves
03:44right in the conversation and right in a picture and given themselves a chance.
03:48So, we'll see. I literally don't know any more than you on that one, but the boys are definitely playing
03:56well enough to warrant the place for sure.
03:58It's just, it's not my decision, so we'll have to wait and see.
04:04Michael, I realise this predates you, but the team's won two out of seven away games and obviously lost at
04:12Newcastle last time late goal,
04:14but then you got a late goal to get an equaliser at West Ham.
04:17Is the away form going to be the key to getting into this Champions League because you seem to have
04:23sorted it at home?
04:27It's just form and results. Whether it's home and away, it's not something we kind of look at too much.
04:33I think it's the next game really.
04:35Yeah, of course, we've had some good results at home.
04:38That doesn't necessarily mean that's fixed and we can move on to something else.
04:43It's always the next game.
04:46And it's been nice to be able to win a home and put that in place and go and play
04:51at Old Trafford with a real feeling of confidence and looking forward to the game
04:54and for the supporters to feel that as well and leaving with a good feeling.
04:58So there's certainly an element of that, but we're not kind of going as a major difference in preparation or
05:07mindset or anything.
05:08I think it's the next game.
05:10As I just said, I think we know it's a tough place to go anyway.
05:13It always has been, but we're not really separating one game to the next.
05:18It's just one game at a time.
05:19I know I've kind of asked about this before, but some of your kind of Liverpool or Chelsea playing like
05:28loads of games over this next period after Friday,
05:32then you don't play until kind of three weeks on the Monday.
05:37How does that work in terms of what the players who are not aware of internationals do when they come
05:43back, what they're going to do?
05:45Because it just feels, it's almost like a pre-season anyway.
05:49Yeah, there's no getting away from it.
05:50I think the next couple of weeks is remixed for the group.
05:55We're not sure, obviously, talking about the England boys there and not sure exactly what kind of numbers we'll have,
06:02but we probably won't have many here.
06:04I think most of them will be away, so that means they'll be training and playing games for the most
06:10part.
06:10So there's definitely that element and it ends up becoming managing each individual for what they need.
06:17Some boys who have played games maybe need a little bit of maintaining the level that they're at.
06:24Some boys maybe haven't played games, need a bit more training.
06:27Mason coming back.
06:28So there's different, we've got to be really flexible to come out the back of it in good shape.
06:35And the boys will have a break in some way, but we're definitely mindful of it for sure.
06:42And it's a little bit unique in some ways, having the week after the internationals to kind of prepare for
06:50the next game.
06:51Normally it's a rush to get everyone back as quick as possible and get on with things quickly.
06:55But we've got a little bit more time this time.
07:00Michael, there's been a lot, well we spoke to you about Bruno Fernandes after the game the other day,
07:03but there's been a lot of discussion since about his performances, his form.
07:08I know you were kind of asked about it the other day, but do you think he is,
07:11if you were a player and able to vote, would he get your vote for player of the year?
07:16I think he's had a fantastic season, I have to say.
07:20It's not so much who I would vote for, but I'm delighted that he's playing the way he is
07:24and having the impact that he is for us and he's proven to be right up there.
07:30And then conversations, I'd love to see him obviously take the award, you know,
07:35and it says a lot about what's going on at this club and how the team's playing
07:39as well as how well Bruno's playing.
07:41So we'll have to see how that pans out, but I'm really, really pleased with everything that he's doing at
07:45the moment.
07:46Kind of following on from that, the fact that we're talking about him, a successful team,
07:50and it does feel unusually quiet and calm around here.
07:53Is this what it was like during your playing days when you were a success for Andrew Sir Alex?
07:58Is that kind of mood behind the scenes that was when you were here?
08:02I think it just depends on what kind of phase you're going through
08:05and what it feels like really, the momentum.
08:08And sometimes it needs to be calm and a bit stable,
08:12other times it needs to be, you know, a little bit on edge and a little bit touchy
08:16and sometimes that brings out the best of you as well.
08:19But, yeah, I mean, yeah, it's largely been calm in some ways,
08:25but actually not calm in the emotion of it, you know,
08:28in the feeling of wanting to improve and the boys, the way they train
08:31and obviously the way they've played, you know, you can't be too calm all the time.
08:34But I think trying to be measured and calculated,
08:38so making good decisions for me and the staff and obviously for the players as well,
08:42I think it's getting that balance right.
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