Are you more or less full strength barring the long term injuries and will you pick a strong side?
No more news on the team, especially no more injuries. Obviously there’s the two recruitments that we made in this window. Big match, big test for us against in my opinion the best team in the world. Looking forward to it because it’s going to tell us a lot about where we are.
How quickly has Leandro Trossard formed relationships?
That’s what I like about him. I see a player that is willing to make things happen and who is really composed, especially in the final third. It’s something we needed in the team and straight away he had a beautiful impact in the team to help us to win it.
Jakub Kiwior has come in and is versatile. Do you feel he gives you enough cover now or will there be more before the end of the window?
Well he gives us more cover. We’ve been with three centre backs which is very short. We’ve been very lucky with injuries and we needed to recruit. We’ve done it. Jakub can play in different roles and is a versatile player and he’ll strengthen the team. If there’s anything else available that can make us better we’ll look at it.
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Has your relationship with Pep changed now that your team are fighting with his for the title?
I always hoped that that was going to be the case one day and it’s happening this season. That’s not going to change any friendship, the moments that we have, how important he is in my life, how important he is in my profession. We’re both willing to win and defend our clubs in any way and that’s always been the case since day one.
Is Odegaard giving your defence any tips on how to cope with Haaland?
No I think they are two players in top form. But they have and we have as well other players who are in a great place and really important for the squad.
Can Eddie sustain his levels?
That’s the challenge that we all have – not only Eddie – to be, not just at that level but at a better level every single day. Eddie has been great the way he has responded to the huge challenge and demands since Gabi got injured. We are positive he can still get much better, evolve and still continue to develop.
Are we making too much of the booking you received and your antics on the touchline?
I don’t know. I focus on things I can do better. Let the refs take the game and be in charge of that. I’ll look at myself in the mirror sometimes and try to find the right balance there sometimes. I love the game and I’m very passionate about it, I love to win more than anything else and that’s how I live the game. As I said though if you can do better you should always try to do that.
What physiological advantage does it give the winner on Friday for the title race?
I think they will be two very different games. And to put similarities into them, it is very unreal, mainly for the players who will be on the pitch. But as well because the context is extremely different. It is important to obviously play well and to win and that gives you more momentum and confidence and prepares you better for the next match. That is our focus to do that on Friday.
What have you done to change the mentality and be able to win a game like on Sunday?
I think the key word probably would be belief. Not only our belief, our belief but the staff's belief, the players’ belief. The atmosphere that we created with our people at the stadium. You could sense it if it's down that we could go on and win it. And managing the game emotionally in a much better way than we used to. And then playing better. And we are playing better than before. And we are earning the right to win the games. And football as we know, is very unpredictable.
The roar at full time on Sunday; is it the most united the club has been in your time as a player and manager, the players, fans and staff?
I wouldn’t like to compare how it was in the past. I am extremely proud and privileged to be in this moment at the club and we all feel that energy and that empowerment between everyone who is contributing to get the club where it belongs.
What impact has Zinchenko made?
He is a player who gives us everything that we want in that position, he gives us versatility and he gets a lot of attention as well and fills other spaces that for us is very important. I will especially highlight his mentality and what he brought, he has a real desire to make something special with this team and experienced that he has had in the past is very helpful to do that.
Man City game in the FA Cup is different to the one you play in the Premier League. Is it fair to say that these games could define your season?
It will define them obviously because if we are able to win on Friday then we will go to the next round and they won’t. If they beat us then it will be the other way around. It is a competition that is very important to us, very attached to our club and history and will define a moment that is for sure.
You said you dreamed of competing with city, are you farther ahead in competing with them earlier than you planned?
I don’t know. This league brings you incredible challenges, the best coaches in the world, the best coach in the world, and to be at that level you have to immerse yourself, you have to find other ways to try to compete with them. And that is where opportunities come as well. And we are on that pathway understanding that we have not done anything yet and there are still a lot of things to improve.
Will Mohamed Elneny be available on Friday?
I don’t think he will be. He had some issues with his knee that we are assessing at the moment and we will have to see how he evolves in the next couple of days.
Is there concern because there have been whispers he could be out for the season. Any truth in that?
There are concerns, especially [because] Mo is a player who never complains about anything. But let’s see.
Kiwior can play in midfield. Do you feel you have enough cover now or do you think you need more?
Well, we need some more cover in midfield ideally if we can. In this market it’s pretty complicated to do that. The most important thing is that we get the performances and the time on the pitch that we need with the players we have available today that are already really good.
Does your relationship with Pep make it more special that your at the top of the table against someone you worked with?
I would prefer to do it with someone else to be fair. I want the best for him, genuinely, and when you are challenging with someone like this something comes in between that. So it’s a strange feeling, it is what it is, and that’s our challenge.
How did Pep react to the Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko deals?
That was done in a really nice way between the clubs and between us personally because you have to do that respectfully. It was all agreed by everybody as you have read and heard many times. It was a three-party decision, if not they wouldn’t be here, that’s for sure.
Does the situation at Everton make you sad given your affiliation?
It does because it’s a club that I love so much, that’s I’m very grateful [to], very attached to and I just hope they can get to where they deserve to be and get things moving fast, get everybody on board again and hopefully get out of this situation.
Gabriel Jesus suggested he’d be back in four-five weeks. Is that the time frame we’re looking at?
With him, I don’t know. He wants to be here next week but it’s unrealistic. He’s pushing and driving everyone to the limit. I can’t give you an answer. Hopefully it will be weeks and not months, but it was a serious injury and we need to respect that process as well.
Does he still have a massive impact?
He’s been incredible with the boys, the staff, everybody around. His energy, how positive he is towards the boys, he’s always giving them advice, always next to them. He doesn’t want to be in the frontline (spotlight), he’s been terrific.
50 points after 19 games. How does this inspire you for the second half of the season?
What we are doing gives us enthusiasm and hope to dream but we know the reality that there’s still half the season to play. In the Premier League, it’s a hell of a story so there’s still a lot of chapters to be written and we have to look day-by-bay.
You are the favourites?
We cannot control that. When you look at what happened in the last few seasons that makes sense, okay we accept that.
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