Pep. Congratulations on the win.
Can you explain a little bit what happened between you and Erling...
We discussed a lot. Yeah, yeah.
That’s the first question of the game? A problem? The first question?
Erling won the ball immediately,
and Bernardo decided not to give it, because there was one minute left, 0-2,
and two minutes before he was two actions, long ball to Mateo Kovačić, we lost it.
Another for Julian [Alvarez], we lost it, and they make a transition.
And we had to defend deeper.
With one minute left we have to finish 0-2,
nothing happened, reflect and go to the second half.
I understand Erling, because he wants to post one against one to score more goals.
But, in that moment,
Bernardo took the right decision.
What do you think about his performance today?
Five days after he was not having the best match?
Erling.
Yeah.
Deja vu last season against Liverpool.
West Ham two goals, today two goals.
So quite similar.
Pep, when we spoke on Thursday, you kind of suggested
that you didn’t think your team were particularly ready for this.
Undercooked, underprepared a little bit.
But they seemed to start particularly well, they scored after four minutes and you won 3-0...
I don't think all the teams are not ready.
So what the people say now have less preparation.
It looks like I'm complaining just in case they lose.
I'm not complaining. If we’re a team and we’re complaining,
we would not win five Premier Leagues, we would not win a Champions League or another one.
So we are a team who accepts what happens.
The rules, the referees, the rules and everything we accept it.
But you have less preparation and we are still away from the best form,
but we have to try to not drop as much points in that period, with this amount of games,
and this is how to do [it].
And how you solve this lack of preparation, [it’s] a question of mentality.
Read what you have to do.
And we were fortunate to break the game early, with a goal from Erling.
But after we create problems ourself, give passes against man-to-man.
That was not correct.
But there was a moment, the first 30 minutes, 35,
like Bernardo drop, Mateo drop, Julian drop and Phil drop.
And we attacked with the fullbacks outside, and made a lot, a lot, a lot of passes.
And that was the key.
In the second half we read perfectly, to try and isolate Erling one against one,
and play the balls to him. And when we win it theres a chance,
and when we don’t win it, we have to defend.
And after we make a lot and we continued to do a lot, a lot of passes.
Is the position that
right now, in the condition that we have in the way they play, we should do it.
We did really well
And the first game away, and new promoted with passion and love that they have
to be back to the Premier League. always is so complicated too. so tricky.
And we behave, except 10 or 15 minutes when we gave away balls in difficult positions.
The team again, showed heart and passion, and they still want to do it.
Kevin’s injury...
It’s hamstring again, yeah.
Is that... - The same position.
The same position, I don't know depends on the magnitude of the injury.
But it will be a few weeks out.
Was there any way, do you think he might have come back too quickly, or?
Maybe it was my mistake, but when it is an injury after 15 minutes, 20 minutes,
it is not about that there is something wrong.
When it happens [after] 65 [minutes], the fatigue of the muscles, you can read that.
But it’s 10/15 minutes it’s something, we have to talk with the doctors,
with him, and you have to be relaxed, free in your mind.
He'll be back for sure. They happen.
He was I remember one year, I think our second Premier League were together was
a long, long time injury.
So he knows a little bit that, so he as to relax, because he
he came back for that position. He will be back now.
Is he particularly disappointed Pep? Because he looked quite down, when he came off.
Yeah, of course he's down because he fought a lot.
He lost the final Champions League.
You know, after when, 20, 25 minutes.
He felt really good, because I spoke with him.
How do you feel? No, no I feel perfect.
And I prefer to start, you know, make 45/50 minutes.
And after, there was an idea. But, unfortunately, it happens.
Of course disappointed, but he is strong, and he will be back.
Ederson played the ball over the top a lot tonight.
Is that just because of the specific opponent? Or is that something...
When you play against teams with man-to-man,
the man free is the keeper.
So that's why you have to use this alternative and the opponents want to face,
one-against-one, against Erling or Julian, in all the spaces, all the length of the pitch,
behind the length, okay, you accept it.
If Erling is able to win that ball, it’s one-against-one against the keeper.
So, and, with this type of quality keeper, Eddie and Stefan have this incredible long ball.
And the quality strikers we have with Erling and Julian, it’s another weapon that we have to use.
Can I just check Pep, is Kyle Walker okay?
He told me it was a kick. It was not twist.
It was a kick. Yeah. He’s fine, yeah.
No John Stones or Ruben Dias today.
Ruben was a concussion in the head.
We were scared. What happened was in the training sessions.
And that's why the protocol has to be seven days off.
And John felt with one pass, something in the abductor.
And the doctor told me that it feels really good today.
So will not be long. I don't know for Sevilla.
But maybe for Newcastle and the other ones, [he] will be ready.
Pep, can I ask you about Burnley?
You said they caused you some problems in the 15-20 minutes spell.
But from what you saw today, what do you expect from them...
I said last season, Vinnie changed completely the way they play from Sean Dyche.
Sean make magnificent for this club, don’t misunderstand.
But Vinnie in a short time, changed the mentality,
the way they play, the build ups, the pressing, the aggressiveness.
And we saw last season in Championship, with two months left it was over.
[Burnley] was already promoted, he did an incredible job.
It is not an easy place to come here.
I will tell you, a lot of games here teams are going to suffer.
That’s why I’m really pleased.
Because I know what opponent we faced. last season in the FA Cup,
Last season in the FA Cup, we won it, but in the first half we struggled a lot.
And after, Erling made the difference as well.
Because against teams like this, high pressing, man-to-man,
Erling is an incredible weapon in behind.
But yeah, I'm pretty sure he will do a good job.
Thank you. - Thank you guys.