Does that feel almost like a defeat?
Of course.
What do you think it's down to?
I think we started both halves very well, controlled the match with a very offensive approach to this game today. A very offensive 5-3-2, we knew about the risks in coverage to avoid counter-attacks. We knew about it, so we needed to be very, very disciplined. We showed discipline over most parts of the first half, but in some situations, we took too much risk and lost discipline in the formation, and we connot do this because it was a very offensive approach. There were some dangerous moments at the end of the first half where we were lucky not to concede. We were unlucky not to score. I'm not sure if it was a foul in the build-up to the goal.
In the second half, we reminded the team to stick to the plan, to execute the match plan with more discipline and more precisely, and we were 2-0 up, and again we take too much risk in situations where you cannot take this kind of risk. We invited the counter-attacks and big chances. Once you do this, you lose confidence and invite the opponent to smell that something is possible when it is unnecessary.
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Great for Romelu Lukaku to get two goals. What did you think of his performance?
Yeah, but guys. Okay, good performance, but this is for sure not the moment to talk about individual performances and praise players. We do this as a team, and we lost crucial points. This is not the moment to praise individuals.
Were six minutes added on fair?
Yeah, I think so. I was not surprised about it. I'm not in control, but it seems there was not a lot of time played, so there was no problem.
Did you drop too low in the final 15 minutes?
It's not about dropping too low. It's about the structure, where you lose the ball, and individual positions, then the opponent takes a crazy approach because they have nothing to lose. We could not score the third one, huge chances to score the third. We don't even create big chances because the pass is missing, the dribbling is wrong, and the decision is wrong. At some point, we played like we were 2-0 down, so I don't think we were too deep, the opposite.
Then we tried to respond to it and change the structure. I don't know if that was the right decision for me, I need to watch it back. It's a lack of execution of the match plan throughout the whole half, and we get punished for it. If it's fair or not is not worth discussing.
Did Marcos Alonso have an injury, and why did you swap Cesar Azpilicueta and Reece James?
Azpi had a yellow card, and he was very active in the first half, but he was too offensive. He took too many risks there, and sometimes we only had Ruben as the spare player in the two v twos, and that's why we changed. Azpi had a yellow card, and we wanted the runs from him in the second half. I was very happy with how we started the second half. We created chances and half chances and had enough situations to have a 2-0 lead. Marcos was not injured, it was just a decision we made.
Will the news of the takeover allow you to focus more going forwards? Have you had a chance to speak to anyone?
No, I don't think ownership is a reason for lack of focus. We showed when the situation began that we can still focus. I would not consider this as an advantage for Leeds as it does not change much for us because the sanctions are not lifted.
It's not worth thinking about, we have our own stuff to solve and make better. I heard the news this morning, and I was in my match routine, so there was no reaction from me. I have not spoken to anybody yet, but as I said, I was in my morning routine.
I do not check my phone or scroll through the news when in my routine, and that was the same as always because I have a lot to do. I do what I do, which is to try to do the best preparation for the match. I know it's positive, and we hope for the best, and the situation is so long now that we need it to be solved, but for me personally, there was no influence on the game.
You said some first-team players could be involved with the under-23s tomorrow?
Yeah, but we will decide first, and then we will tell you.
