We know that you're going to be in charge now for the upcoming fixtures. So how big an opportunity is this?
Good question. I think, like always, I've just looked at supporting the club really. It is an opportunity for us to try and get another three points and that's all I'm focused on. I’m focused on Everton and then if we do I’ll be focused on the next game. So we're not really seeing it so much as an opportunity more of a job I need to do to support the club in this moment.
The next two games are against relegation rivals, are they season defining games?
I think there's still a lot of games to go. I think we need to pick up points so they’re important games as always, but I do think there’s enough games to pick points. I think they're huge games, every game in the Premier League is a huge game. It's a big opportunity and the players are excited to try and go to Goodison and get the three points.
The club have made an announcement today, with Luke Ayling’s contract being extended. How important is he to the team, to the dressing room, and how impressed were you with his performances against Manchester United?
For sure, I think all the players are important to this group, they're really good group of players. But I think Luke, first and foremost, is a great person to have around. Very professional, great leader, great leader in the dressing room and a bit of a legend to the club. So I'm really pleased personally but also for him professionally and for the club that they could get an extension out of it. But I think it's a really important moment and to answer your second part of your question about his performances, I thought he was he was brilliant in the two games against Manchester United.
Read more: Leeds United make Luke Ayling contract decision with clause triggered
What is it about Ayling that’s so essential to the dressing room?
I think it's always important that you have good leaders, and it's also important that you have good leaders to help support young players, but also good leaders that do things the right way. Luke's one of them, for me. He does things the right way. He's also been positive. It's also important to have good performances as leaders and I think we showed that over the last couple of games.
Have you had the chance to assess all the injuries and are you able to update us on them?
Yeah, sure. So we've still got the long term ones that we're trying to work hard on to get back fit. We've got Pascal back in training after we had a concussion, so he's back in training today which is a positive. Liam Cooper and Marc Roca are touch and go, not far. So we could we could see them maybe on Saturday, but we don't take any risks with any players and I definitely don't want to take any risks with any players in this moment but there's another couple that could be back. We've got Sonny Perkins back on the pitch, which is nice to see. So yeah, we're slowly, slowly getting some strength back in the squad which is really pleasing.
Have you had any fresh ones to worry about since the last game?
Knocks, bangs, you know, usual things when you come off the pitch but nothing major.
After the last game did you think that would be it for you in terms of taking the senior side, have you had to re-lift yourself this week?
I just thought, just every game I'll take it, every week I'll take it and every day I'll just come in and try and do the best job to set up a team and be prepared. In that moment I was prepared for this week if I needed to be called upon and if I was called upon I’d just carry on doing the job that hopefully people can see which is do the best I can do, give as much time as I can to it and hopefully set up the team to try and perform in the next game.
It seems as though the senior guys have responded to you well. What would you say is your strength with the senior players?
They’re part of the process, for me. The senior players are really experienced players, they’ve played in the Premier League a lot and I just want them involved in the process in whatever we do. They need to be comfortable in how we want to do things and how we play. The leadership group and the players that are around are all part of the process and it's really important to me to use experience with those players and they've been brilliant in that way.
Sean Dyche, what’s your experience of him?
I've met Sean a couple times, he probably doesn't remember me. But yeah, we have a similar guy that I know, he played for John Duncan, who actually worked with me a few years ago. I learned a lot off John as well. Sadly John's passed away now but he's such a good footballing man and both of us probably come from the school of John Duncan in ways. So, yeah I know Sean a little bit and obviously I know he's a great manager. Every manager in the Premier League is great and every team is tough, it will be a tough game on Saturday, no doubt.
How significantly are you treating this fixture or are you looking at it as just another game?
We're excited. We're excited to go and try and get three points, genuinely excited again to try and get three points. I spoke to the players and the staff and all the staff have been brilliant. We just see it as a chance to go get three points again and if we can go and do that that's the most important thing, picking up points.
You pushed Manchester United all the way in two games, what has that done for confidence and belief?
For the group, I think they were really pleased with their performances and that's the most important thing, for me, the players, they thought they had some good performances, but at the same time, we didn't get the results. So we've got to tidy up some things and make sure we're strong but no doubt there will be some really positive feelings because of how well, especially I thought second after going out against Manchester United, at Elland Road, I thought we were really strong.
Have you enjoyed the challenge so far and what have been the biggest challenges and differences to your normal role?
Really enjoyed it. Really, really, enjoyed it. Exciting, I love working with top players, I love setting up a game plan for top opposition, so I can't say I don't enjoy it. Every day is a pleasure to come into work and work for the club and work for the players. Biggest challenges? Time.
Time of the managers, I think it's one of the things I've learned is being really conscious about your time and focusing on the players, but not a problem.
How’s Luis Sinisterra getting on?
So obviously from the first game, he took a bit of a pulled muscle and he's again one of those that is on his way back, a bit further a bit further away than Liam and Marc, but he’s progressing nicely
Have you any thoughts on dealing with Everton’s midfield three?
Lots of thoughts, lots of thinking. They're going to be really physical, we know that, they're really aggressive. They are supreme athletes in the middle of park so we've got to be really good and really competitive on a day to make sure we win that battle in midfield.
We saw last week when Patrick got substituted in the second game, Luke reacted, Patrick reacted, has there been any analysis or feedback about the decision?
Yeah, we talk all the time. We talk all the time and I think one of my strengths is I'm very talkative with the players and I explained my decisions. I'm very open with my decisions and why. With modern players I think that's the way and I think they respect that decision whether he thinks I'm right or not. Unfortunately, we're in a job where we have to make decisions. No problems, Pat’s been amazing, like all the players, and in that moment we just try and make the best decision we can at the time.
How did the talks go with Victor when he came to you and said he wanted you to take more matches?
The club have been great, Victor’s been great, the board have been great, everybody's been great around the club. I just said if you want me to support I'll carry on doing it and if I can help in this moment, that's all I want to do. They've been they've been really supportive of me, helping them get through these moments.
You say you're enjoying it, it must be fairly overwhelming the whole situation doing this, taking games against Manchester United, how are you finding it in that respect, because I imagine even two weeks ago you never expected to be here?
I think I'll go back to one of my earlier comments. I've been coaching for many, many years probably in the background and in different ways. I'm just seeing it as a game of football that I need to prepare and overwhelming? I don't think so. I think I'm okay I'm dealing with it.
I've got great support network around me of staff. I've got a great support network around me of the board and the club itself and for me, I think the fans are brilliant as well and hopefully they can see I'm just trying to do the best job I can do, so I wouldn't say overwhelming I'd say exciting really.
Is this something you want to do, if this a position you want to be in full-time?
I'm happy, I'm happy. I've always said I'm happy coaching. I love coaching. I love players and I love working with players. So, I was happy in my 21s role as well. You know, if I'm here later on then that's something in the future, but at the moment I'm just trying to do the best job I can do.
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