A comprehensive and impressive performance to beat Liverpool tonight?
Impressive performance. It’s hard to be comprehensive against Liverpool because they
remain in the game because of the team they are. But we can’t ask for any more.
The spirit, the work ethic, the quality, you've got to defend really well to keep a clean
sheet against them.
What a team they are. And we defended with everything, played well and deserved to win
the game.
Frustrated that your team don't play the same way against the 'lesser teams'?
I have gone over that quite a lot this season. There’s a big positive and some negatives
to that. When we've played against teams who have defended deep and we haven't been able
to break them down. In the first two games against Liverpool we may have played better
football at times. We had more control at the Bridge in the second half and in the Super
Cup we were the better team in parts.
But today there was an extra spirit about us and we should take positives from that
because we can compete with the big teams. But what wins or loses games is what you do
in both boxes.
Today we got a slice of luck defending but with some quality saves from Kepa and quality
defending from individuals. And we took two chances that won us the game. And those are
the rules.
Where we’re at is we’re still in transition and we’re still working to close the gap
to the opponent today. And to do that we have to find consistency. That’s another question.
Zouma said you had a player and coaches meeting to sort the togetherness?
I just felt we needed a general meeting on where we want to get to and the realisation
of the work it will take to get us there. We're not Chelsea of different eras gone by
with Hazards, Costas, Terrys and Drogbas. We’re in a different place.
We’ve got younger players and some older players. We’re in a different place and
trying to bridge a gap upwards. It’s important to know that unless we work hard every day
in training, unless we behave well and go home thinking how we can be better as a group,
we can’t make that jump up.
There were bits of focus in both games. Our issue has been in both boxes and sometimes
there is a mental side to that. Our issue has been in parts of games we have moments
and conceded two goals like we did against Bayern Munich.
So it was trying to take that on, the mental issue. and all the players agreed, we all
said the same and that's a good start. But that is not the end. beating Liverpool is
not the end, we have to replicate it again and again.
Pedro was outstanding, can he be a big player for you for the rest of the season?
Yes, possibly. I agree he was outstanding tonight in work ethic and players look up
to him for what he has done. Always a goal threat. Parts of the season have been difficult.
He was in the team at the start, got injured and then got out of the team, But what he
has shown, particularly in recent weeks is a real desire in training.
To look sharp, to be giving advice and giving the place a lift with his body language. He
can be one of our most important players until the end of the season. He is an infectious player.
Billy Gilmour, a great performance from him tonight?
I’ve got absolute trust in Billy. When you watch him play, I remember when we drew against
Sheffield United and we drew and people asked me after the game 'this kid looks like a 15
year old'. But I’ve no problem with him because if he is small in stature he is huge
in personality and talent.
For me when I look at a midfield player, I have lots of questions... does he want to
receive the ball in all positions - yes he does. Do you make angles and does he pick
the right pass? yes he generally does. Will he put his foot in? Yes he does. And he is
humble. All his family were here tonight, I think his Nan and Grandad were down from
Scotland. What a performance. Not just as a youngster coming to the team, that's one
level, he performed like a top class player going up against top class players. It was
great for Billy.
When was the team meeting?
A couple of weeks ago.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was watching, a big month for Gilmour for club and county?
For us, I will only talk about us, Billy showed today that he is absolutely comfortable at
this level, now. I am the first not to get carried away but if he can play like he played
tonight then he is comfortable at the level he can get himself around the team now. The
players know that. They can sense good players. He has trained with us all year. The reason
he moved from academy to the first team building, trained with us all the time and started against
Liverpool is because he of how good a player he is. That’s all his doing. As for Steve
Clarke that is his choice. He has absolutely done himself no problems tonight. He put in
an immaculate performance, brilliant performance. That’s Steve’s choice.
Kovacic and Willian injuries?
Both have got an Achilles’ issue. Willian hopefully is not too bad, that is what he
is reporting there so we will see how he is tomorrow. Kovacic’s feels slightly worse.
Hopefully not too drastic, so we’ll see.
With Kante and Jorginho out, some issues?
They’re off tomorrow, but we’ll have to have a bit of a count on Thursday, with the
game Sunday, and see where we are with midfield players. Sometimes you can moan about injuries,
and I have done because we had some big ones early in the season and particularly in recent
times, but the reality is that you have to get on and keep with it. And when the players
show the fight they did tonight you hope that it gives them a bit of strength as a group
for whoever comes in to keep moving forward.
As a club and a manager how concerned are you about Coronavirus?
As a manager yes, as a father yes, as a husband yes. I think we are all in the same boat as
that is concerned. We are taking all the right courses of action here within the club and
I am as concerned as the rest of us, I guess.