How satisfied are you with your time in Dubai?
Really pleased, we always enjoy being here. It’s a place where we always get looked after, that we have the right conditions to play and train. It was our first game here since I’ve been a manager so thank you so much to everybody for making this experience possible. I’m really happy because this is about winning and we won today by playing at a good level.
What does coming here mean to you?
I love it because I come here with my family as well. It’s a place that has really good memories and experiences. It has everything that we want and we need and personally, I enjoy it a lot.
There was a big crowd tonight?
Looked like it. We have a lot of supporters and some of them turned up today. Hopefully, more can turn up in the second match, but we always feel really welcome here.
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How important was it to try out some of the younger kids
It’s great. They are always with us and involved in our processes. We know that we want to get opportunities to young players. It’s something that we’re very adamant to do. Having them in camp is great to see them, some of them with a very young age, already performing and having opportunities with the first team it’s really nice to see.
Do you have a better timeline on when Jesus may return?
No. We know that he needed some intervention in the knee and we have to take it day by day, week by week and see where that takes us.
When can we expect Smith Rowe back?
Emile has returned to training and is in that process after a period of real discomfort, so we’re giving him time. He’s getting closer and closer so hopefully he’ll be ready soon.
Could Martinelli play up front?
We look at the squad and see what options we have our with the players we have available. There are things we can try, we have the need to do so.
Does Jesus’ injury affect your transfer plans?
What it affects is who we are as a team because he gives us so much. What we can do after that when we know the timescale better and we have when we can have him back we will look at the options and try to make the right decisions.
How do you adjust from warm weather to cold weather back home?
Well, I think it’s always easier this way because the players are so happy to be in the sun and be outside and wear some flip-flops and be training in better conditions. It will probably be tougher in London especially with the way the weather looks now, but we are so used to it. We train there every day and we are so lucky. OK, we don’t have the weather but we have so many other things.
Is your squad short now?
I feel my squad is really good, and unfortunately, we’ve had injuries, but we will see what we can do to be stronger.
Do you have enough depth to challenge for the title now?
We have a lot of players, we have a lot of academy players. We have the players who can give us the performances and the consistency to maintain or improve from where we are.
How hard will it be coming back after the World Cup?
I don’t know it’s a new experience for everybody. We’ve tried to prepare in the best possible way. This camp it’s very important to do that and it’s very important as well to get the players who have participated in the World Cup in the best way as quick as possible.
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