Obviously a disappointing result last weekend but every time you've had one of those since you've joined, you've always bounced straight back in the Premier League with a positive result. What does that tell us about your team? How crucial is it that they do that again against Liverpool?
As you say, after our last game all of us we are disappointed more with the second half than with the first cup, but the final of the game was for us hard to accept. Now we have another chance.
We know there are eight games left to finish the season and we don't have time to complain about anything. Only try to be focused on the next game and try to do better as we did in the most part of the games we played before. I think in this way we can compete, we are full of confidence and we believe we can do it.
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What have you made to Liverpool this season they were involved in a great match with Arsenal last weekend. Are you concerned that may have given them a bit of a lift coming into this game?
We know how difficult it will be this game against Liverpool because they are a very good team. I said before in this moment we have no time to think about if it's better or worse to play now against this team. We have to play give our best and try to get the points.
Those five goals you conceded last weekend, it means that it's been 10 goals conceded in your last three games. How big of a loss has Max Wober been in those games and can you give us any indication when he might be back?
Obviously something we have to improve. But the best thing for us is in the previous games we didn't concede goals we didn’t concede many chances. The best thing for us, if we work following the plan, if we respect ourselves for sure we have a better level defending, attacking and competing. It is the only way we can prepare the games and we can get good results.
So you’re not giving anything away about Max Wober?
I think we try to do our best always.
You're currently two points above the relegation zone but obviously you're going to have results to watch over the weekend. How mentally strong does your team have to be because if those results don't go your way, you could be in the bottom three by Monday. How mentally strong do they have to be to deal with those sort of psychological blows?
It’s important to be strong in this moment of the competition but not because now we are at the bottom or one point ahead or behind, we try to be focused on ourselves and try to compete the best way, to compete the way we usually do it. If we are faithful with our plans for sure we have many chances to achieve our target at the end of the season and we are concerned about that, achieving our target at the end of season, not to be today or tomorrow in one better position or worse.
Just to push you a little bit more on Max Wober, is he available for Monday or not?
To be honest, I don't know yet. He’s training some days with the team. But we have two days more before the game and it’s something we have to see during the next days.
You said after the Crystal Palace game that in the same way that you don't dwell on victories you don't dwell on defeats. How much did you analyse what went wrong against Crystal Palace? Or did you just draw a line under it and immediately move on?
Of course we have to analyse the things that happened in that game because nobody can understand how we could change so much from the first half and the second half. It is something we'll have to analyse why and after trying to improve. After the game we spoke about what we spoke about in the halftime, trying to improve some details, defending set-pieces
In the first half we I think we played a good first 45 minutes, but after with more distances, not being so aggressive, not being so intense, then the spaces appear and in that moment, the quality of Palace players as well there is something. In three minutes we conceded two goals. It was the key. After the third goal it was hard to manage and very tough to manage for us. It was like a boxer who received a punch. I think it happened something similar. It’s something we have to learn from and after that try to prepare the next game.
And do you see in training this week that your players have learned, what reaction have you seen from them?
Yeah we’ve tried. What I can tell you is all of them have done a hard work this week. Trying to pay attention to the details, the little details because after all these things make the difference and change a game like we suffer against Palace. They work very well this week. I'm sure they learn from our mistakes.
How dangerous an opponent are Liverpool at the moment?
Very dangerous. A very good team. Very well organised. They know perfectly the way they play and it’s hard to play against them. But in this moment the importance of the games left is crucial for us and then we don't pay attention if we play against one team or not and pay attention to the importance of the points.
Jurgen Klopp speaking this morning said that he felt they have nothing to lose, they have to try new things, everything is on the table now. Do you kind of take a similar approach or despite the second half against Crystal Palace, do you stick with the things that have been successful during your time with Leeds United or do you try new things?
For us it’s crucial, is vital this game. This is something we have to take and try to give everything in this game. It’s not a final because we have to play eight games but we have to live it like a final knowing it will be a very demanding game but we have to give our 100 per cent.
Just with regard to the squad is there anybody else who will definitely be unavailable for Monday?
We have some players with some different issues. Some of them without training in this moment, but in the next days we'll have to evaluate them and to decide. But maybe some of them will be out for at least the next game.
Did any of those players start in the Crystal Palace game?
That’s all.
After a defeat like that which is such a blow, as you described. Are you tempted to make wholesale changes to the team?
Before we choose the players for the next game or before we prepare the plan, I always try to evaluate all my players, all the games, all the training sessions and after I decide. In this case, it will not be different, but not because we are coming from this defeat or maybe we are coming from a good result but I always try to choose, I did changes coming after a good result as well, it doesn't depend on the last result.
Obviously Leeds had a 2-1 at Anfield back in October. How much have you looked at that and how much does that come into your preparation this week? Or is it just a totally different story now, can you take sort of inspiration anything from that?
I know. We got a good result in the first game but now everything changed. We have to ready for another game. Of course for the mentality of the players is good. They know they were able to go get a good result there but all of them know now it’s another game. We have to again to be ready for a very tough game.
What’s it been like for you as a coach this week trying to pick the players up after a heavy defeat like that. Has it been difficult to pick them up and did they get time off to almost like forget about it and reset and then what was the mood when they came back?
It never is easy to manage the defeat. You know you can always do better with the good results but I think it's necessary sometimes to feel disappointed and to learn, to grow up. It's important to feel that experience if you learn from it. In this case, I think the players felt that difficult moment and now for the rest of the season I hope it helps us for these games to complete better.
You and your team have had a few days to look at the video now from Sunday's game and I'm sure you've looked at a lot for the reasons why Sunday happened and what changed. Is there anything particular that stood out for you that did change or flick the switch at half-time?
The same way I decide the players before the game to start, during the game I tried to decide what I think is better for the team. Sometimes because one player has one yellow card, like Junior in this case was with yellow card or in other moments I prefer fresh legs to defend his player. You have to think many different decisions in a short time. I believe in all my players and these changes is not because they were playing bad by the way or not because I think we can improve or the team needs that moment that change or because we don't want to take risk because one player is booked and then I have to decide in different games. My decisions until now are not because the players are playing in a bad way. I believe and I trust all my players.
It was a pleasant surprise to see Adam Forshaw in your squad. How do you view his final eight games now, is he fit enough to play a role, can he make a difference?
Adam is coming from a long-term injury. Good news for us to first of all to have this player with us training with us every day. It is healthy for the group, for all of us. Centre midfielder and as you know, we don't have many options in that position. But good news for all of us.
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