Injury update
I’ll just do a quick injury update like I’ve done. Jack Harrison with the contusion looks positive, he should be in training tomorrow and ready to go for Sunday. Rapha is fine and he’ll be ready to go. Then Patrick Bamford it’s a little bit too early to tell where he’s at and we’ll evaluate over the next days and see what that looks like for the upcoming matches.
Good news – how are you staying positive?
The feeling after matches is painful, when I go back and evaluate these three matches, the first chance/shot the opponent has goes in. When you add that with the red cards it makes the games very difficult. We’ve got to find a way to have a better start in the match, see if we can get the lead and certainly eliminate the opponent from scoring so quickly to give ourselves a real shot in the match.
What have you said to players about red cards?
Just that discipline in these moments is important. We want to be aggressive but not overzealous We know that the best way to give ourselves a chance is to not jeopardise the state of the match by picking up red cards, especially in the first half of the match.
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Brighton and Brentford, they have nothing to play for, how much can it help?
For me, I will just start with Brighton and say in theory – I’ve heard the phrase said in England ‘they’re on the beach’ – but if you watch their game against Man United last weekend, you wouldn’t have said that, you would’ve said what an incredible performance. So we watched that match when we were in the hotel down in London and we saw a team that was very clear, very confident, good with the ball, good against the ball and I think that’s exactly what we’ll expect again. So preparing for them is a little tricky because they do different things in different phases of the match. It’ll be a great test and obviously one we know we need to get the result.
How well has Bamford trained?
I don’t want to say much about Patrick right now. I just want to give him the opportunity to continue to progress and then make a decision on his involvement for each match.
Is it up to the player now to say how he feels?
I think everybody is working together, the medical team, Patrick, the coaching staff just trying to evaluate where he’s at and what the potential is for him to be able to help us.
Red cards – does that change your approach (mentality)?
It was certainly a discussion point and we know that being aggressive but again not overzealous. Whether it’s discipline, or the pressure of the moment or that the players want to achieve so badly, it’s a combination of things. So certainly we know that going into these last two matches we can’t afford any more red cards.
Sensed their over wound-up?
I asked that internally with our coaching staff and we said are we over motivating? Even my last talk that I gave to the team in the locker room before the match against Chelsea, it was calm. I’ve tried to have my finger on the pulse of what the team needs at all moments, tactically, training-wise and certainly what the message is in all moments. I think for my personality my message from the beginning was that we stay calm, focused, and I think I’ve continued with that. But obviously we have a team here that is aggressive, that especially at home wants to achieve for their fans, wants to show their fans, wants to perform for their fans. So I think we were aware of the fact that killed us in the last two matches and we can’t have that again.
Same approach against Brighton regardless of Burnley result at Spurs?
Our preparation as such is that we feel like we have to win the match. The tricky part is, regardless of the result with Burnley, they have a match to play on Thursday as well. In the end the most points we can pick up in this match will help our situation, so our focus is on winning the game. I think that’s the point.
Feel like you’ve been able to stamp your authority on this team?
It’s been a blend of a lot of different things. I’ve said from the beginning about a style of play and also being pragmatic. I think that the balance of that, with the seven matches before the City game was really good. We were able to pick up some big results and turn the momentum. A lot of that came from seizing the moment against Norwich. It was a really good performance against Norwich but then in the end we had to find a way to get a win in that game and it changed the entire momentum. I think that’s what is clear to us right now, the situation is not easy. It’s clear we need points and we just need to mentally and physically be ready to seize the important moments. That’s part of the tactical plan, the tactical plan involves principles and the way I’ve tried to get them to perform and the way I’d like them to play. It’s clear it’s not anywhere near ultimately what I would like it to look like. But the mentality of the group and the idea of what a team is, the work ethic is always there, which really makes working with this team and these players a lot of fun.
Pundits predicting relegating – motivation?
There’s certainly a chip on the shoulders with the identity of this club, we all know that. To be honest I haven’t read much of what has been said in the media and I don’t know if the players have either. We have to focus so much of our energy, which is regenerating and going again, knowing our backs are against the wall and needing as many healthy bodies. And when I say healthy bodies I also mean psychologically and mentally so that we’re ready to stand up to this moment in a really big way. That is entirely our focus and what’s been said on the outside I don’t think it’s had much effect on us.
Biggest game in years?
I haven’t been here so it’s hard for me to reflect on that. I watched the documentary before I came and I saw some of the important matches in that season, but we obviously know we need to win. Is it a must win? No. But the three points is massive and minimum one. We have to find a way to really turn the momentum with two matches. This match can be the defining one in the season for sure.
Support elsewhere in the club?
Yeah, we had the ownership speak to the team yesterday. We’re all totally unified. That part I love about being here. I think it was one of the reasons I told you from the beginning I came here, because I believed in the people and the people believed in me. But in difficult moments I’ve been really impressed, really impressed with Victor, Angus, Andrea, Paraag, with everybody’s ability to stay together, unified, supportive. That part has been awesome and it allows me to focus on the things I need to do to get the job done with our team.
What was said in the meeting?
They just tried to say that we have everything still in our grasp and that our ability to recover and go again and believe. There is a lot of talk about belief so a lot of the things they said fit with things I’ve said already to the team without me communicating every day exactly what I am saying to the team. That also lets you know there’s real alignment here, so again that’s incredibly helpful.
What feedback are you getting from leadership council?
They’re all in. When I watched Kalvin Phillips and his ability to represent the club, community, play at his best, be a leader on the pitch in difficult moments, run for his team, never ask questions, do whatever it takes. For me, in terms of clarity of what it takes to do a job effectively, I don’t care what job you do whether it’s a bricklayer, on the street paving roads, this man comes to work grabs his lunchbox and does whatever it takes to help the team. I could say that about Liam Cooper, I could go down the line and that’s what we have here. For me it’s always about engaging, supporting them in a way and I know they’re all in. I know they’re convinced with the way we play, who we are and none of them want to see this project end at this moment. That’s the biggest motivation is everybody understands that to keep together, we need to stay in the league so that’s what we’re trying to do.
Discipline – are you still in control of that dressing room?
Yeah, it’s not that I’m in control, it’s that we’re unified and we’re totally unified. The yellow cards and fouls, that’s not reflective of a lack of a discipline. That’s I think a desire, a desire on the pitch. Of course the two red cards we know they crossed the line and they hurt us ultimately. We don’t want that, but we want to be aggressive and go after the opponent.
Impressed with fans – and what can they give on Sunday?
Fans have been phenomenal, amazing. There was a moment after the game, we were all disappointed and frustrated. We were walking around clapping the fans and I don’t know if you guys saw but a little boy came on the field, like he was running after his heroes. Then we tried to help him out and Kalvin grabbed him and took him over. The way that the fans, they see who Kalvin is, because he puts his heart and his life on the line for this club. So there’s a really unique sense of community here with this club that I’ve been able to experience in my short time here. I’m very thankful to be a part of and I understand fully how special that is. It’s part of the reason for the red cards, is that the players, the desire for them. I don’t think it’s an accident that Luke’s red card came in front of the fan base at the Emirates. It’s because they want to do whatever they can for the fans, it’s a positive for us. We are going to use it that way and we need them at our backs again.
