Javi, a damaging defeat, what was your plan today tactically?
Today we try to be more aggressive in our pressure. I think we started pressing high, trying to recover more balls in the opposite half and I think in the beginning with pressing with Rodrigo and Brenden and Weston as well close to Palhinha, we control the building up of the of the rival. I think the first half was equal. We didn't create many chances but we didn't suffer a lot. And in the second after conceding the first goal and second was tough for us. Both goals coming from the same side two crosses.
We had the balance into the box, but two goals and after that in this moment is hard to manage for us. Coming from two defeats it's not easy. The team keep going. After we scored the goal, but it was late.
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I know we can look at the goalkeeper for both goals. But are you more worried about what happened before that and those goals to be created?
I’m worried about everything. It’s our third defeat in a row and we have to improve all the players and the level of the players. We have to recover the best level because we have to play a very, very important game in three days and we have to be ready in different in all the different positions.
Brenden Aaronson and Weston McKennie struggled today, is it a time for change in midfield?
I prefer don't speak individually about players because all of them are trying, they are trying their best. Of course sometimes all players make mistakes, but I prefer to keep the strength of the team, of the squad and try to compete our best way.
Willy Gnonto came on today. Are you have you seen enough of him today to suggest that maybe he could start playing on Tuesday?
All the players can start, it is not about the level when they play some minutes. I know the level of all my players and all of them can start. It’s something about different options. I have to take a difficult decision.
I know you see the players trying in training. Do you see them struggling mentally in games?
Of course when you are in three defeats it’s not easy to manage but we are professionals. We are coming from other games where we were able to get better performances and better results. That is something like we have to recover that level and try to compete the way we did before. Now is hard to accept the moment we are living but we have to believe and try to do it together.
Liam Cooper came in today, was he among the positives for you?
I think we were stronger defensively. We had a better management of some moments of the game, some parts of the game. But as I said before it wasn't enough. We have to find the balance we need to compete and to win the game not only to have some positives.
What was it you saw in the first half that made you feel you didn't want to make any changes at half time or even before the first goal?
I think that in that moment I didn't feel that we needed some changes. I think the game was under control. Maybe was thinking about changing some players that, as you know, cannot play all the game and we need to refresh in some positions. But in that moment, I took that decision I didn't feel that the team need some changes.
The general consensus is that is that Willy Gnonto has been one of the better attackers in the team over the course of the season and yet you said on Thursday he was ready to play, he was ready to start. Not chosen today. Can you explain the thought process with not starting him?
I can tell you the same that I have to decide, I have to decide right about the players. All the players are, in my opinion, doing well and they deserve as well. Of course today Patrick Bamford and Luis Sinisterra, they couldn't train during all the week because they had some issues in the last game. We couldn't start with them because they didn't train and only some minutes. We have different players in different situations and we have to manage that. You asked me about Gnonto today. I have to answer you about that. But when some of you ask me about the players that don't play is bad signal for us because you always miss the players that don't play. Bad signal for us.
Do you think the players still believe in themselves? Do you think they believe they can get out of this?
Yeah, we have to. It's time to do it. We don't have time. We don't. We cannot in this moment have doubts about that. You have to believe because we did it four games ago, five games ago, we did it really well.
Do you feel you're in control of this, can you make enough of a change by Tuesday night to get the result against Leicester?
Yeah different game in our stadium. It will be different and we believe we can get the victory of course.
The supporters they seem to voice that disappointment maybe towards the board or the director of football. Did you think they stuck with the team today?
I don't know. I think the players are focused on the game. And I don't know if they realise about what their supporters say.
Did you feel the supporters stuck behind the team the whole way through?
I can feel the supporters are disappointed like all of us are disappointed in this moment. But I'm sure next game will be there supporting the team because they support the team not only support one player or one manager they support the team and they are with the team
Joel Robles is a very experienced goalkeeper, you remember him winning the FA Cup, you would have thought he'd be able to offer wisdom and experience. Why aren’t you considering him at all?
I consider all the options but I have to decide. I try to choose what I think is the best option for my team. Joel I know him very, very well from Spain but they have to decide.
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