What did you make of the performance?
We are qualified, so that’s the first step. Really pleased to do that. Now we want to achieve the second one, which is to finish first in the group. Because we know the difference that’s going to make in terms of the games you’re going to play and against who. That’s still something we had to do in general. We are really pleased with the performance and with what the boys showed. We had some really dominant and good moments, but we lacked in the final third and the final action to put more shots on target and to score more goals, I think.
Can you tell us a bit about the background of Xhaka’s turnaround
He deserves that. He has faced adversity in difficult moments, he has put his arm up when he had something different to do, the way he is as a person, and the way he treats everyone around the club. The love he has for his profession is unquestionable, and I think he fully deserves that. I’m really happy to see this for his career.
How important is youth to what you’re trying to do?
I think it’s very important for everybody. For them, it’s some experience, and it’s the first time they play in the Europa League, and it’s great that they have the habit of competing in the competition to understand how difficult it is to play in the Premier League and to win. It’s not a development, so really happy.
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That’s three 1-0 wins in a row, which is a famous scoreline for this club. Is that something you’re proud of?
It’s great to have clean sheets. I think today we should have scored more goals, the same in the first half against Leeds, but I’m very pleased with the performance, and hopefully, that will come.
How hard is it to keep rotating the squad at the minute?
They are giving me the right reason to do so. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t give them opportunities to do that, especially with the way they train and behave, which shows they care about the team. So, I’m really happy everybody is participating, and everybody feels part of it which is really important and then everybody is competing and putting in the performances that are needed to win the games.
How’s Saka? Because he looked injured.
Yeah, he got a kick, he was limping a little bit, but hopefully, he will be alright.
Can you tell us about how Granit Xhaka has evolved? He seems a more complete player.
He does, and it’s just about unlocking something in the player’s mind and being more open and receptive to other things, and he’s been extremely open. His work rate all the time to learn is fantastic, and now I think it’s paying off.
Saka has been playing a lot of minutes this season. Were you tempted to rest him?
Look at the top players in the world. They play 70 matches every three days and make the difference and win the game. You want to be at the top, you have to be able to do that. And if we start to put something different in the mind of a young player, I think we are making a huge mistake because then [he would] be like, ‘no, I don’t play now, on astroturf I don’t play’. I don’t want that. I want them to be ruthless every three days. I want them knocking on my door [saying] I want to play, I want to win the game.
Do the numbers of games he’s playing not worry you?
There is no fitness coach in the world that is going to tell me that they cannot do it because I’ve seen it. 72 games and scored 50 goals. The players that score 50 goals do not play 38 games in the season, it’s just impossible.
Have you noticed a difference in the team between now and the beginning of the season with the run you’ve been on?
I think every game is a little bit different. It depends, yes on the win, but on how you play, and it’s about managing the temperature of the team, making sure they play with enough confidence, as well as being on our toes, and we are ready again to go to Southampton and put in the performance required to win the match. This is the challenge, and we are enjoying the challenge.
How high is the confidence?
The confidence is there, obviously and you can see that, but from it is the hunger to go again and win.
You picked Eddie on the left with Jesus in the middle. What was the thinking behind that?
Changing one thing instead of two things. Very simple.
Cedric hasn’t played this season. Is that because of an injury, and has it been hard to leave him out?
Well, obviously, yes. The competition is one thing. The second one is because he was injured for a while, and he had a recurring injury, but now he is fully fit, and he’s a player that deserves to play, and I want to give him the minutes because he deserves it.
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