Firstly, it was a solid 20 minutes and a good spell straight after halftime. What happened for the rest of it to explain that?
Before the game, all of us we knew that it will be demanding for us to play against a very good team and if we didn't give our best level, for sure will be very, very difficult for us. We started competing the game. We had some opportunities with Rodrigo some options to attack the opposite box but after that, when we consider the goal, is something happened in the last games, we were losing the composure and we were conceding goals. There is a moment in the second half, when in the beginning of the second half, when we scored our goal and maybe we felt that it's possible to compete again the game but another mistake gave them the chance to score the third goal and after it was very, very difficult to manage.
The goals seemed to come from when you had possession. Why did you look so out of shape when you lost possession?
Yeah, it's something we knew before the game. They are very good. After losing they have very good reaction. This is not something they only do in this stadium. They usually do, they have a very good reaction and we knew it but we didn't find a way to put a ball in the right place and we didn't have any chance. They did very well. But we need to be focused on ourselves and we need to improve for the next games.
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When it went to 2-1, you had them under pressure. In hindsight would that have been the time to bring Gnonto on? Do you wish you’d made changes at that point?
The players were in my opinion playing well and there was in that moment, I don't remember well the minute it was but, the halftime was very close. We had time to do many changes in the halftime. We decided don't do it. But in that moment, I think Luis scored the goal. All the players were playing. It was a boost for all of them because they have the energy to continue playing. But I decided to make changes later.
How do you keep the players and the supporters believing in what you’re doing?
I suppose the supporters need to see the team playing like we've done in the previous games and try to improve our level. Try to get better ourselves, this way I'm sure the supporters will be happier with the team. The players, they need to work in all the things we have to improve because what we are seeing in this moment is not enough. We need to improve our level for the seven finals we have to play.
Did you get an explanation from the officials for the handball before the first goal?
No, I asked the assistant there and he told me the check was offside. Nothing else. It was the explanation I had on the pitch that it was gone, it wasn't handball, but that's all.
Do you feel it was particularly instrumental in the result or do you think that ultimately the performance was to blame?
After considering six goals I don't want to say anything about that. But you and me know what happened.
What have you said to the players in the dressing room?
I don't usually speak too much after the game. But I prefer to speak before try to speak in half-time, try to look for the solutions. I prefer to speak in next day than after the game.
You played against quality teams like Chelsea and Arsenal and on those occasions that gap seemed closer. Tonight it just seemed to run away from the team. Why has it fallen away so drastically in the last few weeks?
I don't have in this moment an explanation for that. But what they can say is the players always thrive, the players always work hard during the week, try to prepare the next game. In this case in the last games, in this game and to be honest in the second half in the last game, we didn't compete at our level and we need to improve that because we have seven important games left. We have to be to give our best face.
If there is no obvious explanation does that make it difficult to fix?
I prefer to be critical with myself in this moment and try to look for the solutions for the future. Don't speak too much about our referees or other things that in this moment I think is not important for us. Our objective is try to improve, try to be demanding with ourselves and that's the right way.
Given the situation Leeds were in before these two games, is this one of the lowest you’ve felt as a manager?
It’s hard to manage, of course. I don't remember in my career if in two games in a row I conceded five or six goals, I don't remember that. It’s hard to manage but I'm here to try to give my best, to try to help the team, to try to help the club. That is what I'm going to be doing.
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