Another away win. What do you put your record down to?
I think performances. I think to do what the team did today is very, very difficult. We dominated the game almost from start to finish. We had a period of 10 or 12 minutes where we gave so many balls away and lost a little bit of control. In general, I think our play and understanding of spaces, how they were pressing, how we got into the final third positions was excellent.
We lacked that final pass to score more or create bigger chances. We had the decision with the disallowed goal which was difficult to take, but stayed really focused and determined to do that. Then I think defensively we were incredible because to restrict Leicester to one shot in the whole game is really difficult and I think the players did really well.
Do you think Saka should have had a penalty?
I haven’t seen that image. It’s over now. I don’t want to be talking about those situations too much. We’re extremely happy to win two away games against Leicester and Aston Villa and deserve them with the way we played. Onto the next one now which is Everton.
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How do you think Trossard did in the false nine?
Really well. I think he was really good. He got involved in many situations that could have led to many more big chances. He was involved in that incredible goal that he scored that was disallowed. He was involved in the goal of Gabi with the pass that he played to him. He’s so good in tight spaces and small spaces with that creativity to open people up. I’m really happy we have him.
Is that something we’ll see more of going forward?
We had the option. We had the option to play Gabi as a nine and Leo on the left. We had to see how the game developed and what Leicester wanted to do. I wanted to have that option on the field to make that change if necessary and I think it was great because he was really good.
How hard has it been to win these two matches after City?
Really important because it creates more belief in the players, around the club and externally. But I had the belief the players could do it. It was coming back to some details and basics that get games away from us that we made much more. The last two games,- especially today - we have done it much more.
Was the clean sheet important too after some sloppy goals conceded?
Yeah with set plays, and some sloppy goals with individual errors which are part of football. But the fact that we are not conceding goals and giving away chances is really important if you want to be constantly winning matches.
How satisfied are you with your January business after Jorginho and Trossard’s displays?
They are two players that already have experience in our league that are really well fitted to our way of playing. Really intelligent to understand what we demand to execute certain things and they have the personality to play the way we played. This is what’s required at this level.
Are you happy with how quickly the club responded to setbacks in the January window?
Really happy because we were very clear about what we wanted to do, we could not do it and we had to adapt. You have to do that in the window. Don’t feel sorry for ourselves. I think everybody from the board, Edu especially with Rich were really strong in doing what we had to do and we were first there to get what we wanted.
What were the little details you needed to fix to win these games?
Against teams like Everton the way we conceded the goal and some set pieces was very avoidable. Sometimes the wave is created very far from the beach. Then it’s too late to avoid what is going to happen. We had to improve on those things and today we’ve done that really well.
Martinelli signed a new contract and was really good today. What’s your response to that?
It was really important for him as well. Sometimes you have to give someone a breather to come back with even more energy and enthusiasm. Today he contributed with a fantastic goal that gives us the win. Delighted on his contract because we had been working on that for a while and we want to keep our best players at the club and he’s really committed to what we want to do.
He seems very motivated doesn’t he?
You’re not going to lose that with Gabi. That’s not my worry. If anything sometimes you have to slow him down because he’s got too much. He’s in a great place.
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