Decisions went against you. VAR?
Decisions like that are crucial. Maguire should have got a red and then scores the second
goal. I think that is a major part what VAR was brought in for. The second viewing, different
angles. The referee can’t see all the angles, so if you aren’t going to look at the monitor
then you won’t see them. That one was wrong. The Zouma one I think should have stood. At
first I didn’t it looked like a shove from Azpilicueta. But you see it again and he gets
shoved in the first place. It’s certainly not clear and obvious. The goal is given and
he gets a shove, then you say goal given. Giroud was offside.
What did you say or the referee say to you?
It was behind me to be fair. He didn’t say anything. I had nothing clear to say, when
the VAR check happens you are waiting and trusting the right decision. I didn’t have
anything to say.
An obvious frustration then?
Yeah. It is just the wrong decision. Which is harder to take. It is what it was brought
in for. Love it or hate it but if they see it and make the right decision then fine.
It is confusing, though, with all the angles that it is the wrong decision. It is universally
the wrong decision, everyone I have spoken to, not just in our changing room but neutrals
as well have said the same.
Concerned about the form?
I don’t like the word concerned, because this game will throw up the word concerned
when you have six or seven on the bounce. Concerned about many factors. I don’t like
losing games, the way we are losing games. Losing games, particularly at home, where
we have had big chunks of possession, big chances at goal, around goal but not finishing.
It is a reality that is getting clearer all the time. We are not getting enough goals
in the striker areas. Tammy had his period at the beginning of the season, now we are
not getting enough. Enough from wide areas. That is a fact. It is hard to win games. You
can dominate as much of the game as you want, but this Premier League there are not many
teams who can keep clean sheets week in, week out. We have a feeling of superiority at the
beginning of the game, we have started games very well. I have hardly ever looked at the
team and said ‘started sloppy, slowly’. But not many. If you don’t take your chances,
then silly moments like allowing headers, particularly from the set piece changes the result.
Regrets about not signing anyone in January?
I honestly don’t want to talk about the window because it affects nothing now. The
reality is, when you watch it every week, like I do, I watch and we go over the games
again and the stats, that we create as much as anyone, barring Liverpool. I know that.
We are not finishing them. I don’t want to talk about regrets. The window is shut,
we have to look forward. We are in fourth by a point, which means that we need to get
fourth place.
Michy Batshuayi lacking confidence?
Maybe, but confidence is part of football and the only way I felt that you get over
that is hard work. Complete dedication and hard work. Every player will go through it.
Doesn’t matter who you are, you will have varying levels of confidence. The only thing
for me was hard work, that goes for any player.
What was the injury to N'Golo Kante?
It’s an adductor injury. We will have to assess it, scan it. But it doesn’t look great.
Related to previous injuries?
I don’t know that yet, for sure. I can’t give you that information. It’s the same
leg, so similar.
Lost all three games against United. Wonder how you haven’t won any of them?
No because football is what it is. They are going to score goals and have those moments,
we can’t be naive to that. But when you look at the reality that we scored one goal
in those three games, 60 minutes of being the better team at Old Trafford, at home here
clearly the better team and today again the better team. I don’t want to sound like
I am naive, but it is football. We are going to lose games if we don’t score and you
give them a chance. To be fair to Manchester United, they are a fantastic counter-attacking
team. They didn’t give us loads of problems on the counter today. A couple of small ones,
but we gave them two headers. It’s something you can’t do. That is a moment for the players,
you can’t let them run in the box, you have to jump and head it away.
Does OGS set up his teams better against better teams?
I don’t know but we have come up against a lot of teams here at the Bridge who have
set up with five at the back, deep block and we have had problems. We create a lot of chances,
but when a lot of teams defend the box then you need to be extra clinical. Extra sharp
about getting shots away and on target, we have struggled against that in general.
Does the Man City situation ease pressure on fourth?
It’s potential, though. When there is question mark over an appeal I don’t think we can
get caught up with that in those terms. All we can do is say that we are fourth so it
is in our hands. We want that fourth, or look up above us and close the gap. That is a game
by game situation. The gap is closed, but I don’t think many people thought we’d
be fourth by this point of the season. The fight starts now and we can’t effect the
Man City situation much.