What did you make of the performance?
Certainly not a good result for us and a lesson that we can learn today that there are games that if you're not able to win, you're not to lose. It was very clear that today wasn't our day, but I understand we wanted to try and get three points because it was very important for us to get three points playing before our rivals in the race for the Champions League. But sometimes, we need to feel. Today the game was very difficult because it was a tactical game for both sides.
Brighton was very good to close every space, but we helped our opponent because we moved the ball slowly. We are able to do much better today. Maybe a more fair final result was a draw, but Brighton played a good game. They're a really good team, well organised with a good manager, and if you win against Arsenal and Tottenham away, it means your team is a good team.
How damaging was it in the top four race?
The damage is you can't add three points to your table, that is the damage after the game. You have to go to analyse why we started very slow, and we played a game that, in my opinion, we can do much better than we showed today.
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How do you explain no shots on target?
I think that Brighton was very good to close the space, and we were not so good to close the space. In the difficulty, we have to try and find the solution with a single player. Today I think we can do much better.
In what respect was it a tactical game?
After I saw the game against Arsenal, it was very clear in my mind the way Brighton were going to play against us. Brighton were good to close the space, but if you move the ball in a slow way, you help the opponent to close the space, they would not be able to occupy if you move the ball quickly. I think that you have to try to do much better than today. We have to know that we are in this race for the Champions League. I think not many people thought this, but we are in this race because we showed that we deserved to stay there. Now we have to continue. Once you are in a good position in the table, you have to keep this position.
It's a good opportunity for us also to cope with pressure, because when you arrive and then you know that you stay in a fantastic target for you. You're winning the league, and you are first, and then you have to cope with the pressure, with the other results, and I think this is a good opportunity for us to improve because I think this group of players need it, no? They needed this type of examination for improvement.
There was a big tackle last week on Matt Doherty and more today, do you think players get enough protection?
I think that sometimes the referee has to pay more attention and protect players. I understand that sometimes you go and you take the ball, but if you go and take half ball and half body and you damage the player, it's not the same.
I think for the safety of the players, the referees have to pay great attention. You have to take the ball, but when you take the body, and you make damages to your opponent, I think you have to make a big punishment to the players. I was a player, and I know the way to do it if I want to make a problem for an opponent, an injury, I find the right time to go for the ball and the body. I was a player, and I know this. Instead, to take only the ball, I go for the ball, but he has taken the ball here, but he has broken his leg also.
Was it frustrating for you that Brighton wasted time rolling around and staying down for long periods?
I think Brighton played the game very well - to play a tactical game, to try and close the space. At the end, they reached a great result and won the second game in a row - before against Arsenal, now against Tottenham. But we're talking about a team that they showed this season to be a really good team. Well-organised and well prepared.
There was no flow to the game, though, every 30 seconds, some stoppage time?
Yeah, but in this type of situation, the referees have to be more good because it's normal if you are playing and you know you can get one point, in the end, they got three points, and you understand that sometimes to lose the intensity of the game with a player to say, lie, and yeah but I think there are the referees who have to try and give continuity and don't break the intensity of the game with fake injuries.
Do you think Kulusevski should have been sent off?
Honestly, I didn't see, but for sure, I'm going to see what happened. I think maybe also during the game, other players deserved the second yellow, but Brighton. But I think the referee, he decided in this way. But I repeat, we have to accept the decision of the referee.
