00:05Good morning everyone, hope you're well.
00:08We'll take a share of answer questions please with the mics on the inside of the room
00:10and we'll set an embargo partway through for 10.30pm on Saturday evening.
00:14We'll start with PLS please.
00:18Morning Enzo, how are you?
00:20Good, thank you.
00:21Can we start with the team news?
00:22First of all, going into this weekend's game,
00:24and particularly Nick O'Reilly, Jeremy Doku, how close might they be?
00:28Nico is 100% available, and Jeremy, I think he needs some more days.
00:36What are your thoughts on what Michael Carrick's doing with Manchester United,
00:40the players he's brought in, the way they're playing at the start of this season?
00:44How do you assess them?
00:45I think he's doing a fantastic job since last season.
00:48He took over in a complicated situation, finished very well,
00:52and this season more or less started in the same way, so he's doing a very good job.
00:57And obviously there's a lot of excitement, a lot of energy around the city going into this game.
01:01It means a lot to the fans of both sides.
01:03You've been involved as a player and coach in big games.
01:06From your perspective, how significant is this game in terms of one-off match
01:11and what you're trying to achieve this season?
01:13It's very important for different reasons.
01:16We know how important it is at Derby,
01:19especially here for the club, for the fans, for everyone.
01:22So it's a special game and the most important thing that we can do
01:27is try to be ourselves in the way we have been until today
01:32and then we see the final result.
01:42Your team played on Tuesday, Manchester United played on Thursday.
01:47How much of an advantage do you think that will be
01:50getting the extra rest and preparation for the Derby?
01:54To be honest, the club mentioned me that it happened exactly the same last year
01:58when the club played Napoli and then after two days played Arsenal.
02:01So sometimes it happens in football.
02:04I don't have any doubt that Man United, they're going to be ready for that.
02:09And it's just a matter to adapt.
02:12So you think it equals how, as the season goes,
02:15sometimes you play early, sometimes you play late?
02:17I think that happens.
02:18Happens and you need to adapt.
02:20Happened last year with us, this season with them.
02:23Next season will happen with a different team.
02:26But ahead of such a massive game, how do you think Karik will be feeling?
02:29How do you feel if it happened to you?
02:31This is a question for Michael, it's not a question for me.
02:34The only thing I can say that happened and you need to adapt.
02:39Hi Enzo.
02:40When Elliot Anderson chose to join City over United in the summer,
02:44he said that City were the kings of Manchester.
02:46I just wonder, is that how you see it with all the silverware
02:49that this club has won over the last 15 years?
02:51Yeah, probably the reason why Elliot said that is because he grew up in the last 15 years.
02:58I think Manchester City was unbelievable, what they achieved.
03:03So I think it's normal when Elliot said that.
03:07Then if you go back, it's a different picture.
03:11But for me, the reason why Elliot said that is because when he grew up,
03:16Manchester City was dominant.
03:19There's been lots of talk about your midfield, but they've strengthened their midfield this summer.
03:23One of the players they've brought in is Andre Santos,
03:25someone that you know well from Chelsea.
03:27Just what are your memories of working with him
03:28and what kind of player have Manchester United signed in, Andre Santos?
03:32Andre is a very good guy, first of all.
03:34Polite, humble, work hard.
03:38So all the best to him.
03:40And I can only speak very good about Andre.
03:45Hi Enzo.
03:45Can I ask you about Phil Foden?
03:47Obviously, he's got a fantastic record in Manchester derbies in particular.
03:51Is there something about the fact he's from Manchester,
03:54he's been a Manchester City fan, that he raises his game?
03:57I mean, how do you look at that relationship he has with the derby?
04:00Yeah, probably, yes.
04:01Probably, yes.
04:01He's from the house, he's from the academy.
04:04Probably, you know, the feeling for him is different compared to the rest of the players.
04:08And it's something normal.
04:10So probably can be the reason why, you know, for him it's a different game.
04:16And I know you're speaking previously about big games you've been involved in,
04:19but you've also been involved specifically in the Manchester derby.
04:22How does that rivalry compare to other rivalries that you've experienced?
04:27Yeah.
04:29Derby is more or less similar.
04:31You know, more or less similar.
04:35I have been involved in different ones.
04:37I promise you the worst one is Olympiacos Panathinaikos.
04:40That is very hot.
04:42That is very, you know.
04:44But, again, I was in Italy with Juventus, Juventus Turin, in Seville, Seville, you know, Betis.
04:52As a manager with Chelsea, different one here.
04:54I think they are all a special game for everyone.
04:57For the fans, first of all.
04:58For the club, for the players, for the coaching staff.
05:02It's a special game for everyone.
05:04And, to be honest, I want this kind of games.
05:06I like this kind of games.
05:08Do you ask your players then to lean into that?
05:11Or do you counsel them to keep their cool?
05:14How do you manage that situation?
05:17I think the most important thing for the players is to be focused on the game.
05:22We leave something, you know, similar to the last Champions League game.
05:25Portaway, it's a complicated stadium.
05:28The environment is fantastic.
05:31I'm not saying that it's the same.
05:32I know that it's quite different in Old Trafford.
05:35But, again, the main focus for the players has to be, you know, the game.
05:39The game plan.
05:40How we can win.
05:41How we can press.
05:41How we can be better.
05:42This is the most important thing for the players.
05:46Enzo, just a couple of questions on Enzo Fernandez.
05:49You've known him for, obviously, quite a while.
05:51How much has he kind of developed in the last few years in terms of his personality
05:55and the way that he plays?
05:57Yeah, no.
05:59He's improving a lot.
06:02Probably in the last two years with us, he become more an attacking midfielder.
06:08In the past, he was a little bit more deep.
06:11I think he's unbelievable around the box in terms of goal, in terms of assist.
06:16And also in terms of leadership, I think he's growing a lot.
06:20Yeah, last week you stressed that he was a winner, had that winning mentality.
06:25How important was that in a reason for bringing him here?
06:29Because it can be quite kind of, I suppose, infectious for the rest of the squad, can't it?
06:33Absolutely.
06:33Absolutely.
06:34And you can see also the teammates, how they speak about him in terms of winner mentality.
06:39But, again, I always say the same, that players, they already won.
06:43They know how to win.
06:44And it's important that they are in our squad.
06:46But also, it's work hard every day.
06:50It's polite.
06:52It's working good.
06:53It's what we need.
06:55Hi, Enzo.
06:56You talked about how in the last 15 years, City have generally been the superior side in Manchester.
07:01In particular, they've won a lot of derby games at Old Trafford in that time.
07:05I'm sure you were there for some.
07:07But how important is it to continue that?
07:10And how eager are you personally to get a first derby win at Old Trafford?
07:14Very important.
07:15Very important.
07:16But to be honest, I'm more thinking about the team, the fans, the table.
07:22And for sure, if we win, it's also good for me.
07:24But the main focus is not, it's my first derby and I want to win the game.
07:29For sure, I want to win the game.
07:31But it's because we want to continue to win games.
07:34That is good for everyone.
07:37But in terms of the supporters, they obviously went a long time without winning at Old Trafford in the past.
07:42And then to do it so often, how much do you feel that's meant to them?
07:46Nice, nice, nice feeling for them.
07:48Hopefully, we can continue with that.
07:51Last year's game was not the best one for us, but hopefully it can be the good one this season.
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