Mikel what are your thoughts on another crazy game
I think it was a phenomenal game for fans, for us it was a bit of a rollercoaster. We wanted to start the game really fast, dominate it, create issues, be really vertical and we managed to do that. We dominated big periods in the first half, we dominated, we scored two goals but that momentum when they scored left us a bit cold and we got a bit insecure to how we react, so we had a little five, 10 minute period there where we weren’t sure what to do.
The start of the second half we didn’t start good again. We had some problems to occupy certain spaces that they are really good at and they have so much quality to exploit that. Then when they missed the penalty and we changed the shape, and then we scored the goal, that’s when I think the game got where we wanted again.
Granit Xhaka got a really good reception from the fans. What do you make of that?
I was dreaming of that because he deserves it. If any fan would individually spend five or 10 minutes with Granit, or even two minutes, because that’s all you need, they would understand the person that he is, the professional that he is and how much he cares about the club. But the history was there.
Now I think he made, I would say a risky move, when he opened up and expressed completely his feelings, but as well he’s done that because he’s prepared. He feels that environment is going to protect him, he feels loved at the club and the response I think it was great. Thankyou to the fans for showing that appreciation to him because I know how much that means to him.
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Granit is one of the few players to survive the squad overhaul. Why is that?
We need some balance in everything that we do especially with the characters and the personalities that are in that team. With the youth academy players that we are bringing in, with the signings that we made, with the quality that we had on and off the field, Granit in my opinion was going to have a key role and he was going to have a key leadership role to achieve what we wanted.
It felt like the chaos of the game suited you. What do you think will be decisive going forward in the top four?
I don’t know. Today what was decisive is when you are 2-0 up and have total control of the game Ronaldo comes in out of nothing when he’s with Gabi and he manages to score the goal, then I think no one in this room would say we would win with Granit scoring from outside the box. This is the beauty of this game. I don’t control these things and I’m not trying to control them. But what I see is a team that is so willing, that gives the energy. The cohesion that they have in that stadium is phenomenal and it gives them a chance and it makes me believe we can do it.
Granit said after the game you need to be more clever and mentally strong in these situations. Do you agree with that?
Yes. But it’s very difficult to do it and sometimes the game is taking you there. Some of these players are very fatigued. Emotionally and physically it was a huge game to play at Stamford Bridge and after everything we accumulated there you have to play two days later at 12:30, but we managed to do that. To come with a victory against that team I think it’s great and it’s what the players deserved.
Were you worried coming into this week after the three defeats?
I worry even when I win so imagine this week! After the defeats it’s always like this. In the two games, especially the Brighton game and Palace in the second half we didn’t deserve to lose Today if you go chance by chance maybe we don’t deserve to win, but that’s this game. We have to be focused on what we do and what we do after winning, because this is our balance and understanding who we are, with our strengths and, of course, with our big weaknesses.
What’s it like to coach Nuno Tavares when he’s so up and down?
We have to help him. He needs to go through these experiences to understand what triggers these moments when you go from here to there. We know, and I’ve said this many times, the bill you have to pay with those players is that they’ve never experienced this. They are going to make mistakes and they are going to make decisions that from here it’s very easy to say ‘why have you done that?’. But that’s when we have to give them support because they need it.
Do you see it as you against Spurs for the top four now?
I don’t know this changes so quickly. My belief is that we are going to give it a real go, we can win football matches but the margins are going to be really small and we have to be very aware of that. Winning and losing in this league and where we are today is defined by the small margins and we have to take the game where we want to win in the 95 minutes.
Tomiyasu came back and got a big cheer. What are your thoughts on that?
I think he deserved that. He’s been through a difficult period in the last few months, but if you see him work every day and how excited he was to get back, the amount of hours he put it, he deserves it and I think it was the right thing to do for him.
Can you see this top four race coming down to a straight shoot out in the North London Derby?
It could be a crucial game. Let’s see what happens before that, where both teams are. But of course, that head to head game is going to be really important.
Do you relish a game like that?
This is why we are here. To play big matches that can define big moments. That’s the beauty of this game.
Is there a problem with Saka?
No. Bukayo was struggling even to start the match, but he really wanted to do it. He had a big knock the other night, but at some stage he was struggling. Let’s see how he is.
