What positives do you take from the performance?
Second half, you would probably all think and rightly so at half-time, how many is it going to be? Because first half we were defending with spirit but nowhere near playing in possession anything like we would need to get out, get in the opposition's half and relieve a bit of pressure on the constant defending that we had to do and of course two wonderful goals from Manchester City as always.
We changed in terms of not so much the system but just about pushing up the pitch a little bit farther, not sitting as deep as we were and making sure that our possession became much, much better than it was. We kept giving the ball back to City, we stopped doing that, we found a few spaces and grew in confidence a little bit and then we gave a stupid penalty away which would have spoilt the whole second-half performance apart from Joel making what was a wonderful save and then we go up the other end and score and then the game's on then. Manchester City may if we had played a few balls better from there they may have given us another opportunity because they were actually showing a bit of nerves at that stage because when you get Man City playing on the corner flag in the last five or 10 minutes you know that you must still be in with a chance.
Read more: Firpo mistakes, Meslier misery and Haaland blanks as Leeds United beaten at Man City
How big of a call was it to drop Meslier?
Massive call. I think that's one of the worst things you need to do as a manager going into a new job is take the goalkeeper out because he’s your number one but unfortunately because of the recent performances it's better for him and even though he won't think that and better for me to make that decision on his behalf because no goalie will say ‘yeah, you can leave me out the team’, I have to make that decision. And I have to say, you know, particularly with the penalty save there's not a lot I can knock Joel’s performance with.
At the end there was a real display of togetherness between the fans and the players, is that something you were calling for?
I expected the fact that we have got to try and keep the fans on board because when they when they expect so much more than what they're getting, then they're going to continue to show their disapproval so we've not given the result today but by their response to our players shows that our players fought today and they saw a bit of fight in that a bit of spirit which maybe gives them a bit of hope we just went over and appreciated their support. That's what we did it, threw a few shirts in and we need them. We're definitely going to need them between now and the end of the season.
That's the most minutes Adam Forshaw played in the Premier League game since February last year. How do you think he came through and how important could he be for you?
Tremendously important because it's been pointed out to me by coaches, by a lot of the staff at the football club that the midfield has been slightly weak in terms of particularly it's out of possession work. And I think he's got a lot of experience and know-how and of course, I played differently from previous managers by playing three in there to support that, which I think helps him.
So we just assess everybody on Monday, assess everybody's performance and see who we feel is going to go into the Newcastle game. So there may be a few changes next week. I put all five subs on as well which was you could say a bit risky but I think that the amount of energy that they gave and the times you have to run around against Manchester City without the ball, players tire much quickly with that so keeping fresh legs on and getting fresh legs on helped the team but didn't help the result.
What was the mood of the players afterwards, were they upbeat?
A little bit. I mean, I'm not upbeat because I've got no points like but I am pleased with what they've done in the second half and not embarrass themselves and showed some fighting spirit. So we can build the confidence next week again, and we can build the confidence on the second half performance and we can play a lot better for 90 minutes next week, not just 45.
Given how close the scoreline was, how much frustration was there that Mahrez was shown onto his stronger foot for each of those goals?
Yeah, well, I haven’t seen anybody stop Mahrez going onto the stronger foot yet. So if you find that for me let me know and I'll watch him but I won’t be able to buy him because he’ll probably be about 30 million.
You can stand on his left foot as much as you like but if he wants to go on his left foot he can. Because what he’ll do is take it down to his right and then we'll check it back with his right and get it back on his left again. So, you know, that's why most of the times you've got to get two on him.
How did Meslier react when you gave him the news that he wouldn't be playing today?
Not very happy. I didn't expect him to be very happy but I had to make the decision. It’s not a decision you actually want to make as a manager with your number one goalkeeper but obviously with what we'd watched and what we'd seen and what the staff was saying. I think the rest will do a power of good.
How much impact do you feel you’ve made over the last 72 hours?
Your style comes into managing a football club. Even though my position is a head coach, I am a manager and I manage people. My biggest strength is making people feel better, making people do better for themselves, for the families, for the football club, for the supporters. It's one of my strengths in terms of man management. That's got nothing to do with coaching.
And if you haven't got that skill, you can be the best coach in the world and you won't get your team to play better. So there's a lot of coaching can be done by the excellent work that Karl Robinson does who is an outstanding coach and manager and of course even though I only got to know him in Soccer Aid, Robbie, unbelievable. Lads love him already. So the combination of all three along with the staff that are there already working better and working more diligently to make the team better will be only our focus. We will not focus on anybody else other than the first team squad to try and get a result next week.
Four games, but were you always thinking that it would be the three after this one that you can make the difference?
I can say yes now it’s over. Couldn't say that before. They're so good. It's just unbelievable. Somebody asked me the other day is it the best team in the best team ever and it's hard to say no apart from United's treble winners. I think they have not just the best team, I think they have the two best teams with the amount of players that they have.
I know every team is different but given the form of Newcastle United is that second half a blueprint for how you need to approach that game as well?
Yeah, I mean, Newcastle play differently from Manchester City and I think that's our key element. Our key elements is how can we adapt this week to get the right system, to play against Newcastle United. So our emphasis was to be on counter-attack today. Manchester City whether you want to close from the front or not, you can't because they force you back.
So, Newcastle we’ll have a look at what they do, what they do out of possession, what they do in possession and what system weplay from there and what players will be available or best to fit in that system.
What work do you have to do with Meslier now?
I think that he just gets on with his job with the goalkeeping coach. The goalkeeping coaches are like fathers today so he can take all the time he needs with a goalkeeping coach and rebuild his confidence. So when he gets the opportunity to come back in his brilliant best. I know how brilliant he is by the times I've watched him on the telly and played against me so it’s just that lack of confidence at the minute like everybody but unfortunately for a goalkeeper they don't get away with their mistakes, do they?
What’s it like to be spending your Saturday afternoon back into the technical area?
I'm okay. I have to worry about the wife when I get home because she’s had the telly switched off and waiting patiently for the result. She gets more nervous than me but I'm in control of trying to help so when the whistle goes, the nerves go off and you stand there and try and use your understanding of the game and experience to help the team get to a result but just stand in this stadium again with this crowd, in this league, the best league in the world. There's an opportunity with this football club, irrespective of where you are at the moment, it's Leeds United, why would you turn it down?
Can you see yourself managing into your 70s?
I have no idea. I have no idea. I didn't think I would be sat here managing today. I've never moved so quickly in my entire life than starting last Monday and then from last Monday, standing in the dugout and watching Leeds play Manchester City with Karl Robinson and Robbie Keane. I mean, it was supposed to be Sammy Lee but for the judge. But I'm so lucky that I know Karl and I know he wasn't working at the time and he wanted to join me, because without them without the Sammys and the Karls and Robbies I can't do the best job I possibly can. All the other staff that are there I don't really know but they're professionals and get on with the job but we haven't stopped talking for the last four days. Not just at the training ground but we've been together all night every night plotting, talking and listening and trying to find the right formula.
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