00:26Yeah, so we had
00:30We had two or three main objectives today and the first one was to be adaptive because
00:36it was hard to anticipate their patterns, their shape, but being proactive defensively
00:44and if it was possible to generate momentum early with the ball, I think it was key for
00:52this game. Probably the first 15 minutes were a bit sloppy, we lost three, four, five balls
01:01without pressure, but after that I think we were good.
01:04You obviously get a bit of fortune with the deflection for the goal, but was it controlled,
01:09a good attack and performance? Were you pleased with having a chance of the game?
01:12Yeah, we were often in the final turn today, which is good. After that, this final turn
01:20started, you have to manage the last choice, the last pass and we still have room for improvement
01:26because if we can be a bit more clinical, it's not the final action, but just the action before,
01:32I think probably the game should have been a bit easier to manage.
01:38Obviously Spurs are short of confidence and that was a captain today, but when you've got
01:41the way you want to take this team, does it encourage you that you've had so much in the
01:46control? Yeah, it's important. I think we broke their press early. It was always adaptive,
01:59but I think the knowledge of the team now is getting better, so they can identify in real
02:04time where is the solution. It's still possible to be a bit more efficient, a bit more clinical,
02:11but I think the balance of the power was positive and we were confident.
02:17You had big players back today, which obviously helps, it's going to be really important moving forward.
02:21How tough were the conversations with Trey and Luce off the back of the Newcastle game to leave them there?
02:27Yeah, and Shams as well, so I had to make choices and it's my job. I think the connection is
02:36key
02:36and it's important to be clear, honest and to build more than the starting eleven, a group of 14, 15
02:51players
02:52able to play and to be competitive at that level. After that, we'll have one starting eleven today against Tottenham.
02:59We might have another one later if everyone is still connected with the idea and the mentality of the group
03:09is good. So we need now to step up towards this mindset.
03:16A lot of good performances today, but I thought Habib looked like he did at the start of the season,
03:20really strong and all around performance. How pleased were you with him?
03:24Yeah, for many players, Habib is getting better. He needs minutes in the Premier League because he's a new player,
03:31to be fair.
03:32And he has this power, this energy. So now he needs to combine this activity with a clean execution. But
03:43overall, I think it was good today. Yeah.
03:47Regis, you spent most of the season talking about 40 points being the target. The players obviously got there. There's
03:54then the derby which kind of takes care of itself. They win that.
03:57At various points, it might be easy for commitment, ambition levels to drop and the players start to switch off.
04:05How pleased you that that clearly hasn't happened and what does that say to you think about the score and
04:10the players we've got?
04:10Yeah, it was a question for everyone. So is it for journalists, the fans and the staff. But the week
04:22was good, very good. They worked hard. We felt that they were ambitious because it's about daily standards.
04:31It's not about just words. We want to achieve this or that. It's about what you are doing every day.
04:36So after that, after three weeks, it's still a bit unpredictable.
04:41The way we will play against no known opponent with different new coach, different ideas. But overall, I think the
04:53energy was really positive, which is a good sign for the future.
04:55And within the dressing room, have you got targets for the rest of the season? Have you talked about what
05:02the rest of the season might look like?
05:04I think we want to move forward step by step. And the next challenge is Villa. So we expect a
05:12tough challenge, but an exciting one. And the way we prepare this one will define the energy we'll have, the
05:20solutions we'll have, the opportunity we'll be able to manage. It's always like that. So after that, we'll see at
05:28the end of the season. But I think the energy of the squad is really positive.
05:33And it's a good sign today, after Newcastle, to win again at home, because it was long, those three defeats.
05:42So it was important to break the cycle.
05:45Can I ask about Brian again? He led the line to Burby. You were physically impressed with him last time.
05:51How about him today?
05:52Yes, he's becoming consistent. Good sign. It's a really good sign. Because you can be strong once, when you start
06:00to repeat performances like that. It's a good sign. And probably the connection with his teammates is getting better progressively
06:08as well.
06:08Because you feel that even with a blind pass, you can play the zone and take care of the ball
06:14and then you can support, which is really positive to break a press.
06:18Do you think there's more to come from him? Sorry? Do you think there's more to come from him? He
06:22can do more and get better?
06:23Yeah, I hope so, because he's young. And the final third is now the main target, the build-up. The
06:32way he can keep the ball under pressure is brilliant.
06:36So now the last bit is to make him more clinical, to score more goals. But the platform is really
06:44good. Yeah.
06:46Regis, you've been good with the win today, of course. But if anything, you're frustrated that you didn't win by
06:50more. How do you waste some opportunities in the final third?
06:53Yeah, a bit. We still have a young squad. So they are intense, strong energy, but now it's a question
07:02of execution.
07:03The last choice, the last pass, probably the presence in the box as well. We still have room for improvement,
07:09but we are working hard behind the scenes.
07:11So it's about small adjustments, but small adjustments at that level make the difference.
07:16And just on Luke O'Neill, someone who didn't start in the team at the start of the season, he
07:20probably won't get on the head, I do go on the bridge a little bit,
07:23but how impressed have you been with him coming into the team in a difficult part of the season?
07:27Yeah, he's doing well. He's showing now that he's able to be competitive at that level. We don't know before.
07:35And he had to wait for his opportunities. He worked hard.
07:40He's a brilliant club captain and always well connected with the lads. He sets the tone every day. So it's
07:49a big symbol for us. We spoke about Riggie at Jocastor, for example.
07:53And Luke, even if he struggled early in this game, he's still consistent. And when you work hard, then you
08:00can enjoy the level because you are prepared for it.
08:05Regis, are you excited by the potential of this team, both at the end of this season and going into
08:09the next season? Because when you promote the side to be where you are,
08:11like you said, the players are only going to continue improving the more they play together.
08:15Yeah, I was a lot worried, but a bit. It was an unknown game because after three weeks, we won
08:26at Newcastle.
08:27Maybe you can drop a bit because it's the end of the season. But what we felt this week and
08:34today during this game is a good sign for the future.
08:38And I think you will prepare the next season now. The way you play, the way you are ambitious, the
08:45way you want to improve and show your quality on the pitch is so important.
08:51Was there any stage in today's game where you didn't feel in control or you felt Tottenham or the Angels?
09:01A bit at the beginning of the game, but most because we lost the ball in the build-up, lack
09:12of composure at the beginning.
09:14And during the half time, we agreed that it was about us. If we were disciplined and consistent, composed, we
09:24would have the opportunity to win this game.
09:25The opponent wasn't strong enough to beat us. So I wasn't too worried. But football is a footballer. It's still
09:35unpredictable.
09:36If you don't score the second goal, something can happen in the last minutes.
09:41That sense of composure has developed over the season. Are there turning points in the season where you have seen
09:49a development in maturity?
09:53Yes, it's progressive and depending on the press as well. The environment, the emotions and the players available.
10:03I think, for example, now with Robin and Granit, they are really good at the ball and because they are
10:10involved in the build-up, they give confidence to the rest of the squad.
10:18Does European football come up your radar at any point to do so well?
10:23For me, it's not in my mind at the minute because we are 10th and it's brilliant. So the main
10:33objective of the club was to stay in the league.
10:36Now it's achieved and the vision, you don't know when, is to be a consistent top 10 club in the
10:44Premier League.
10:45After that, if you are consistent at that level, depending on the table, sometimes you can reach another level. We'll
10:54see.
10:56Cheers, guys. Thanks.
10:57Cheers.
10:57Good luck.
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