What did you make of Steven Bergwijn's debut and that goal?
It was a debut goal that was the icing on the cake of a very good performance. Independent
of the goal I would say his performance was very good, very solid. Very mature.
We worked hard during the week. He came to us Tuesday so he had a complete week to work
and to try as fast as possible to understand what we wanted from him.
So very solid performance against such a difficult opponents like Kyle Walker, but then he was
clever enough to appear also in other zones and try to create some problems for City.
So very, very good performance. Also defensively very aware of his position, defending zonal,
covering spaces. Very, very good and then of course the goal is a great goal. It's so
important for us.
Is today the day the title goes to Liverpool?
I had the feeling early in November and I know how difficult it is to win a third league
title in a row. It is hard, it's difficult, but they are still a fantastic team. Fantastic
team, fantastic players, fantastic manager.
So for us to beat them it's very good. The way the table is, you lose two matches and
you almost go to relegation and you win two matches and you get up. It was so, so important
When the penalty happened in the first half did you want clarification over how far play can go on?
Look if the ball doesn't go out it doesn't go out. If the ball doesn't go out for three
minutes or 10 minutes you have to play. Then when it's out the decision is to be made,
but the right decision. Not the wrong decision. The more time the ball is in play, the more
time the VAR has to watch replays, replays and replays.
So one more reason to give the right decision, but the game started immediately with the
wrong decision. It's a red card, it's a direct red card to Sterling.
Was it also a red card for Sterling for a second yellow because he got away with another one?
I don't know. I know it's a direct red card immediately in the beginning of the game.
I know that Mike Dean has a difficult job. He's on the pitch and it's 200 miles an hour.
I wouldn't like to be a referee because it's so difficult. Sometimes I try in training
sessions and I realise that it's too difficult. So for me Mike Dean, good performance. The
problem is the VAR.
That's four points now behind Chelsea, where does that leave your top four challenge?
It's four points from Chelsea but it's maybe one point to Sheffield or two points to United
or two points to Wolves or something like that. So we look up and we also look down.
I look to my team, I look to my squad with the problems we had with injuries. It's going
to be hard. If we lose Dele Alli I cannot imagine, I don't know.
I know that the players were fantastic. I know they are ready to give everything like
they did, but I really don't know. Let's go. Match after match. We've got a difficult one
now, the FA Cup in two days. Let's see but I'm so, so pleased for the boys and for the
fans too.
Is there an impact problem on Alli's ankle?
Yeah. Since that moment he was 'can I stay on the pitch or not?'. Half-time same discussion,
beginning of the second half the same discussion and then he realised that he couldn't carry on.
When you had your last period out of the game you said you missed the adrenaline, are these
the kind of games you missed?
No, I love football. I thought I was going to love VAR. That was my initial feeling.
I like the truth. So when your colleague was asking about playing for three minutes and
then after three minutes, the VAR gives a penalty, then if it's a penalty no problem.
We can wait ten minutes. I just want the truth.
I thought I was going to love VAR the way I love goal-line technology. Even if I don't
win the game because of one inch, like at Watford, I love goal-line technology because
there is no mistake. The VAR has too many mistakes, too many.
That doesn't take away my pleasure though and a fantastic week to work with the boys
and so happy to see their happiness and that's good. The fans also being fantastic with the
team in a season that was not an easy one. Always with the team so they deserve this
special happiness of winning against such, such, such a top team like City's.