Erik, you started to get frustrated with the
players they seem to keep on repeating the same mistakes of having chances,
not taking them, losing games?
Yes, I've seen it in the same way, I think we started well, we dictated the game,
we creating changes, we didn't take them and then yeah one mistake, but even then
till half time I think we play a very decent game and yeah in two days, so of in three days
twice individual mistake leads to that you lose games and yeah they're disappointed but
it is what it is and now we are one week it's the first time since Christmas that
those players have a full week, we have to reset reload so get the energy back and then keep going.
I know that David de Gea made a mistake today but he has made
some mistakes earlier this season, does he still have your complete trust going forward?
He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League so we would not be
here in this position without him so he has fully my belief, no concerns,
yeah that happens but I think as a team you have to deal with it you have to show
character and be resilient and bounce back and so that this team will do.
Do you back De Gea in the longer term?
We want him to stay and we want him to extend this contract so.
How big a blow is that for your top 4 hopes? How big a blow?
Nothing changed, only we could have make it easier when you had a win but we need
three wins in four games and so everything is in our hands and we have to believe.
I know you're not going to look for excuses but it's been a very long season,
I think this is the 57th game. Is there any concerns at all that a very long season has
caught up with the squad you may struggle for the next two or three weeks to get over the line?
Yeah, but it can't be because they are the facts but look now you can't feel sorry for
yourself as a team stick together, individual take the responsibility,
so make sure you have the energy, you have to focus and then play as a team
and then you get a result because we have proven it during the whole season.
Are you sensing at all though the players are tired though,
when you see them on the training ground, when you see them in the
second half of games? Can you sense that they are possibly quite tired?
Yeah it can be but tiredness is in your head and if you want if you have the willingness,
you can take it and it's now to the players, up to the players and me and the coaching staff
and to be together and get the willingness in and the belief that we can take it and this team has it.
Another performance where the second half was lower level than the first half, is there a reason for
that do you think? And have you got the options on the bench to change things as you would like?
You have seen we tried to change that but that's always difficult when you when you are losing,
yeah and you saw the team wanted they put a lot of effort in and then in occasions they go in
the wrong positions they are forcing too much, to go too quickly and then it's counterproductive so
we have to learn from such situations to stay calm stay composed then you will create chances I think
we had some chances, the best I think was Martial but I think we have to.. we needed to create more
Was Garnacho not fit enough to feature at all?
He was on the bench and of course then you are capable to play otherwise I won't
take him on the bench but yeah we have also other options, I think we had with Martial,
with Jadon Sancho, with Sabitzer, all offensive and fit, very fit players are there and present
and then yeah you have to play them but in one week we will see also for him is
that one week extra and yeah he's a player, he's Brave, he can make a difference yeah.
Erik, you talked about everything being in United's hands
and the fact you have three wins, if you win those games but you've lost,
Newcastle have lost today, Liverpool have now won their last six,
players are human do you believe the momentum that Liverpool are gathering might be playing
on the minds of the players particularly given that are now just a point behind?
But it's not about Liverpool it's about us and because look to the table and we
have everything in our hands if we bring our performance so if we
bring our standards then yeah we will win games so we don't have to look to others,
we have to look to ourselves and find a way to win and find the way to get back to our levels.