00:15What did you do in the dressing room?
00:19Yes, a bit. It was the mood in the dressing room, probably in the stands as well, which is a
00:24good sign.
00:25We created probably enough chances, at least to score.
00:29Yes, it was the mood in the dressing room, probably in the stands as well, which is a good sign.
00:29I think we defended well, considered one shot on target just at the end,
00:36against a strong squad with many good players and game changers.
00:42Overall, the game was positive.
00:45It must give you a lot of optimism. You talked about building this team and adding layers and taking it
00:50forward to control the archipass game.
00:53Yes, it was positive, because it's always a balance.
01:01The way you defend and you work hard as a team to control different players and patterns.
01:09At the same time, you want to control the game, taking risks, under pressure sometimes, to create chances.
01:19Last game at home, it wasn't a good balance. I think today it was, but we were not clinical enough
01:25in the final turn.
01:25Do you think sometimes you could just lack a bit of conviction in the final turn?
01:29Just thinking back to Aston Villa a couple of weeks ago, just getting a few more players in the box
01:34like they are doing?
01:36Yes, it's hard to say, because I think they are doing well.
01:40But after that, if I say NOAH the first chance, is it because they didn't give enough?
01:49I'm not sure, it's about experience, about maturity, it's about experiencing tough situations to create the foundation to work harder
02:01on the pitch during the training week.
02:04And then you can move forward because you have something to achieve.
02:08When you think about taking this team forward, when Enzo plays in the centre and plays like that, is that
02:15something you've got to try and keep going?
02:17You make such a difference when you can pick passes like that.
02:19Yeah, I think our three midfielders were excellent today and it was key.
02:25We are still building this midfielder and they have to stay connected because when they play really close to each
02:36other,
02:36their style, their ability to be creative is really excellent.
02:43In an ideal world would Enzo like to play, like to stay in the centre or is that where he
02:48feels it happens?
02:49Yeah, I think it's the best position. This year we had different problems on both wings and Enzo had to
03:01play in this position.
03:03And he can do that, but it's a different setup. And I think when he's connected with a player like
03:13Granit or Noah, he can show his best version.
03:17Just ask a question. There was a fresh report yesterday from Germany saying that a decision has been made and
03:24that he won't be signed this summer. Is that right?
03:28I don't know. At the minute he's a player of Sunderland and he did well today, which is very positive.
03:35And we still have two games to play and until the end of June he will be with us. After
03:40that we'll see.
03:40I know it's obviously not just on you, it's a collective decision. Would you like to keep it?
03:45Yeah, it's a bit early to speak about next season because we want to finish this one before and after
03:56that it's a connection between the player, the club and in this context another club.
04:05And after that you have to make a decision.
04:07And what was it that made you play him today because you had other options, didn't you Luke possibly drop
04:12in trade back and forth?
04:14Because I think it was a good moment for each momentum, I would say. Luke had three or four games
04:24in a row and did well at times and then it was a bit harder.
04:28So it was, I think, the opportunity to Lucha to play this game and they did well.
04:34Just for me, I think I've asked this already this season, Brian looked pretty frustrated with a couple of the
04:40decisions that went against him today. Do you think he gets harshly treated by officials?
04:45It has a specific style of play. Probably it's hard to laugh, Brian. At times. And the defenders in the
04:56Premier League are strong, intense with different styles of play.
05:00So Maguire on one side and the other is so skilled, much smaller, but always with experience. And so it's
05:11not easy. And I think it's a particular player, but overall I think it was fair.
05:18Have you made the point at all to the officials this season? Because it does feel like he's going to
05:22get punished for his own physicality or his own strength?
05:24Yeah, we had this conversation before and it's hard to repeat and it's not an usual profile. So probably it
05:39needs to be a bit protected because it's so physical.
05:46I agree.
05:50Just looking, you mentioned it a little bit earlier on Phil's answers, but how important was it to kind of
05:55come out and control the game from the front foot, especially after the last time out, you know, falling down
06:00against Forrest?
06:00It seemed like it was a really controlled display throughout.
06:03Yeah, I agree. We are back to our foundations, I think. And in the Premier League, it's not unusual to
06:09fail.
06:11I think Chelsea lost four, five, six games in a row. They are a good team with great players. Our
06:18first year in the Premier League after eight seasons struggling at times.
06:25I think it's normal, but the most important thing is the way you react. So what you can learn from
06:30the tough experience.
06:32And I think we didn't find the right balance against Forrest. We were brave with the ball, but turned the
06:41ball over too many times, then conceded transition, set pieces.
06:49And it's not possible in this league. So it helped because the analysis was strong and difficult, but you need
06:59to experience a difficult situation to go forward.
07:01And it was the case. So today we had a good balance between the goal protection on one side, really
07:09well organized, good pressing, man for man, deep block.
07:12I think we conceded only one shot on target. And the other side, when we felt that it was possible
07:19to play under pressure, we did.
07:21We tried and it wasn't possible. We went a bit longer to get the second ball. So it was a
07:26good balance.
07:27When it comes to missing the chances, Noah today, for example, or have you been asked a couple of weeks
07:33ago, is there much more you can do now?
07:36When players get into these situations, you know, coaching, it's more their instinct in that moment, is it not?
07:40Yes, it's about instinct. But probably you have to work more before to adjust the decisions in a short period
07:50of time like this.
07:51And I repeat, they are so young. So they are 22, Noah is 21, first season in the Premier League.
07:59So they need to experience difficult situations to be frustrated.
08:04Then they will go on the training pitch during the week with an extra motivation to develop these skills. And
08:13I think they are in the way.
08:14How do you assess the squad now with two games to go this season in terms of how you might
08:19want to develop it in the summer?
08:22It's a good platform for the future, I think. This game shows that we can be competitive against the best
08:29teams in the league.
08:31And we were consistent over the season. So now it's a question of adjustment. Stability will be key.
08:37We want to be stable. And if we can add three or four adjustments, it will be helpful.
08:45Sorry, just like Manchester United today, you've got Casemiro in their team. He's not playing today.
08:52He's going to leave at the end of the season. You've got a very experienced player in the middle of
08:56your midfield.
08:58Is it possible to quantify, beyond their actual ability, what those experienced players bring to your team?
09:07Because it strikes me as though replacing someone like that is not as simple as just getting them to play.
09:13Yeah. Hard to quantify, but so important. And it's a question. So on one side we have experience.
09:21So they can manage the momentum, the flow of the game, even if it's really emotional, but also they are
09:31great players.
09:32And I think it's important about the level. So the way you manage the ball under pressure, the way you
09:38defend with your teammates.
09:39So they are probably, Casemiro one side or Granit on the other side, not the most physical players in the
09:46league, in the duels and so on.
09:48But they manage teammates and the flow of the squad. And for that, they are so important.
10:00You mentioned about how you've got a really good group of young players. Last summer you had a really big
10:05summer in terms of bringing players in.
10:07And now you're coming towards the end of the season. Are you now starting to have those conversations of bringing,
10:11you know,
10:12again having another big summer despite having such a good group of young, impressive players?
10:16I don't think we'll have a big summer like last season because it's not the same situation.
10:25But it's still important to move forward because the league is so demanding that we still have to improve our
10:32squad to improve the balance.
10:34If some of them are not now well connected with the project, it's possible to change a little bit to
10:42make sure that the balance is positive.
10:45Right, cheers guys.
Comments