What's the latest on Tomiyasu?
Well, Tomiyasu had an injury and we didn’t have anybody to play in that position against Liverpool. He really wanted to push, he tried and he played the 90 minutes, and he felt it again. He will be out for a couple of weeks.
Is it important for him to stay in England during his recovery?
Right now he needs to recover, his only focus has to be to have the best possible treatment. To look after himself, and try to be available for us as quickly as he can.
How long will he be out for?
He will be out for a few weeks.
Where did you struggle to break down the Burnley defence?
Well the way we started the game, it was slow and we didn’t play forward enough and didn’t have enough urgency. Probably because of Thursday (the Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool) , it could be one of the reasons.
Afterwards we picked the game up and started to get better, and certainly the second half was completely different. We were much more dynamic, we had more penetration, we played forward and we had better positions to (threaten them) in behind and the width, in many situations. We created a number of situations, shots, crosses.
But to win this match you need to have a different level of quality, and we lacked that today. With the amount of situations we generated, you need a spark, and someone has to win you the game, if you want to be on top.
Did your attacking position at the end leave you exposed on the counter attack?
It one of the risks that you have, because the game becomes more unpredictable the moment you start to throw boys there, and with the way Burnley play with all of their second balls. Yes we had to maintain our discipline, but at the same time we had to risks because we wanted to win the game.
Do you need new signings to challenge for the top four?
It's what we planned, but the market is difficult, it's complicated. We knew that, but it's a lot to manage and we have to make the right decisions with players that we believe are going to really help us and try to bring in ones that can take us to the next level.
Do you expect incomings before the deadline?
Well, we are certainly trying, but I don't know if we're going to be able to do it. Let's see, it's not only our intention, but a lot of facts that are needed to happen.
Does your goal drought affect Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future?
We have scored a lot of goals recently, but it's true in the last four games we haven't done it. Today, again, it's not about the situation you are able to create, but the quality of the execution and the number of shots that you need to put on target to beat teams like Burnley.
Was this a missed opportunity to get into the top four?
It was a great chance and we wanted to take that opportunity after missing to get in that final, which was a disappointment because we really wanted to play there and today we had an opportunity to do it.
I didn't see that desire right from the beginning, but I certainly saw it in the second half, but we lack that quality that you need to put the games to bed and to have that knife when you are there to do it, like we missed against Liverpool as well when we had them.
Should players have been signed sooner in the window?
I think that's the dream of every manager, to have them in the team on the first day, but it isn't realistic and in this window as well, the history of this window, a lot of them happen right at the end.
What are your plans in the mid-season break?
We're going to go away, we're going to have a training camp all together in a different environment, reunite, refocus and let's have a good go because there's still a lot to play for.
Where are you going for the training camp?
Dubai.
Do you think your players looked tired at the end?
I don't know, I saw them try right to the last minute. They're really tired, we know in the last four weeks that we had a really demanding and challenging situation because we didn't have enough players, some players have been sick, injured, trying to bring them back, trying to expose them onto pitches when they're not ready, but I cannot fault how they tried, they certainly need some days off, but then we need to go back again and bring players back and start to work and start winning matches.
Will Aubameyang go to Dubai?
We will see what the situation is.
How important is it to get the right people in the door?
Players that come here have to be able to take us to the next level. We already have a level, and we want to see much better standards than we already have, and that is how we're going to recruit.
What did you make of Lokonga's performance?
I think he is growing, he is playing better and better. I think he had a really good game the other day against Liverpool, his understanding of the game, he is managing the physicality much better, he is maturing. It's a lot to ask.
When we signed him, the expectation that we had for him in the first year was to start adapting but he has had to play many more minutes than we expected and the kid is trying his best, and I think he's doing pretty well.
You were animated with the fourth official on the touchline?
It was about showing a bit of passion. Obviously we are animated and live in the game, they are part of the industry so I expect someone when we speak to them to show some emotion because they are part of this.
We are not selling newspapers here, we are just being part of the game and when you talk to him that has to flow and that energy has to exist there because we are playing to win football matches.
