How important is Albert Stuivenberg?
He’s very important. He’s someone that I’ve known for a long time, who’s been very important in everything that we do. An excellent human being first. Someone who has a very special way of understanding the game. He was raised in a very similar culture to how I was raised so we share a lot of ideas. He’s someone with huge experience at international level, at academy level, at club level. So he’s really valuable for the team.
Van Nistelrooy seemed to suggest top spot was yours. What’s your view on that and how you approach it tomorrow?
Last week we made the first step which was to qualify for the next round. We need to win tomorrow because we want to finish first.
Is there any injury news?
We had Marquinhos who wasn’t feeling well today and didn’t travel. For the rest we are OK.
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You seem to be picking quite strong teams even though players are getting tired. Is that a deliberate policy?
We don’t have that many players. Even the players that we have, we are bringing four kids with us so we can make the squad. We need to put 11 players there and they have to play. We cannot always change 10, 11 players every game.
How vital is it that Edu stays
I just hope he stays here for a long time because I think it’s going to be a really positive thing for the club. I work with him really well, I think he’s a super important figure at the club who represents all the values and ideas that we want, to do everything in the right way, and hopefully that will be the case.
What's it like to work with Edu day-to-day?
There is a lot happening in a football club and he has a huge role and he has a really good way of communicating with people and managing a lot of things that happen daily. For me and for the team he is really important.
What's your relationship like with Edu?
It has to build that relationship. It has to be very well respected, the roles have to be very clear, you have to share the same ideas but at the same time you have to be challenged by each other because sometimes coaches we have all the ideas and we want something right now that is not the best thing for the club and we have the right balance, not only with Edu but with Vinai and with Rich and with the ownership. It’s really important. We make a decision, it’s all together it’s not your decision or my idea. It’s important in good and difficult moments as well to be together.
Sambi Lokonga said he was unhappy with not playing. How do you keep players happy?
Play them and then speak on the pitch, that’s the best way.
Are you satisfied with the outcome of the FA investigation into Gabriel and Henderson?
I said from the first day that it's a decision that relies totally on the FA and they made that decision so that's it.
Is Gabriel okay with the outcome?
That's something to ask Gabi but the decision is made.
How has it been while it's rumbled on?
That's an investigation that's been run by them, it's nothing for me to comment on that, it's something private and I prefer not to make any comment.
You were linked with a midfielder in the summer. Has Albert Sambi Lokonga done enough to convince you that you don't need one in January?
We will see more and he needs to prove that what he's asking for, he can produce on the pitch. And that's the challenge for every single player, to raise the level and put the right competition in the team, and when you play, perform in a way that [means] we can win and play good enough to win the games.
Plenty of big teams are dropping down from the Champions League. Does that make it more important to come top?
This competition is getting harder and harder and I think, as you mentioned, how it looks today and what the possibilities are it looks like the next round is going to be extremely competitive, that's why finishing first in the group and avoiding another two games is such an important thing for us.
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