You predicted Son would score, you predicted Spurs would win, but what did you make of
the performance today?
And I predicted the game would be difficult. I think the obvious is that it was a very
important result for us, a very important three points in this moment. In this league,
apart from Leicester City and Liverpool, every other team is a very hard group. You win a
game you go up, you lose a game you go down. It's very difficult.
You win two or three matches in a row, so very important for us these three points.
I think when we are playing very well, we have or we should score more goals and kill
matches because then when the opponent is in control they create problems for us. You
risk losing matches.
But it was fantastic what happened after the 1-1, which happens in a difficult moment for
us where I look to the bench and I don't have attacking players to change the game the team
is a little bit fatigued, especially Lucas, Son and of course Lamela.
I took him off because he was in trouble and he is a player who is coming from very important
and long injury, so very difficult.
How can we change the game? With the family spirit, the family character and desire.
That's what they did after the goal, very intelligent team, hiding the ball, keeping
control of the ball far from our goal so I thought important victory, good victory, deserved
but a word to Norwich, the same I said to them, the way they play, the deserve a happy
ending in the end of the season.
What's the latest on Harry Winks' injury?
I prefer not to know before I come in here so I come with a normal face. I don't want
to come in here with a very upset face, so I'm even afraid to ask, but when I leave here
I have to ask.
After a win, a draw by millimetres and a victory this week, what have you learned about your team's fight?
The team fought because the team wants to do well. The team know the situation is not
easy. The team knows that in this moment every point is a point that helps you in the table.
Every victory makes you close some gaps, every defeat makes you go away from your objectives.
Every player that was here today, on the pitch and on the bench, the ones that were not selected
and were next to the bench too, it is really, really a very good group. I keep saying this
since the beginning. It is a pleasure to work with them and try to help them in what is
a difficult season for them since the beginning of the season.
Today is a good feeling. The 1-1 obviously was a bit scary for everybody connected with
us. We don't want to lose points today but then the reaction was very good. I saw players
really, really tired going over their limits to try to give us the points, so happy dressing room.
What did you make of the return of Hugo Lloris in goal?
The return of Hugo is mixed emotions for me. It's happiness to see one of the best goalkeepers
in the world to be back. It's a very good feeling for us but at the same time it is
one of these decisions that sometimes we must have it, but it hurts. To leave Paulo out hurts.
The good thing is that he is such a good member of the family and he is such a special friend
of Hugo that I think he also shared our happiness to have Hugo back as a friend.
For me he gave me a lot of thinking and I had to try to be cold to make a decision without
emotions because to leave Paolo out is not easy.
What did you make of Giovani Lo Celso's performance?
Giovani is improving game-after-game. Today he was fantastic in everything. I think he
is adapting very well to the league, he can play in various positions, he gives us lots
of quality, vision, passing, he is improving his offensive game, he is improving his intensity.
The only thing that worries me is the new life of English football of playing and playing
and playing and in this case he is now playing all the time now because we don't have different
solutions. Even today when Lamela was out, no wingers so Giovani to the wing. It’s
hard but I think it’s good experience for all of us, a good experience for the family.
Was Cantwell lucky to be on the pitch when he challenged Winks?
Normally players and teams that play against us, they are all lucky. But to be honest,
it was too far for me, I didn't watch it on TV, I don’t want to say anything about it.
I don't want to say anything about the penalty, I was too far.
I didn't watch on TV yet. The only thing I want to say is that normally players and teams
are lucky against us. Capoue was lucky, Watford was lucky, Robertson was lucky, Liverpool
was lucky. Normally teams are very lucky against us. In this specific situation I can't comment.