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00:00 What are your thoughts on the red card?
00:07 Really happy with the result but especially the performance after playing 72 hours with
00:12 the last three games. How we played against Newcastle, how we played against Sevilla,
00:16 how we played today, how dominant we were against teams that are very difficult to dominate
00:20 the amount of situations that we generated. I think we fully deserved to win the game.
00:25 The red card, yes, thank you for asking me. VAR was right, the referee was right. Really
00:30 good decision, really positive from Mikel to speak about that. Yeah, good decision.
00:36 How important was it for you to put more hand at Newcastle behind you?
00:52 This is what this team does. We play in the best possible way, we give absolutely everything
00:57 to win games, to earn it. When the opponent is better, just congratulate them. I think
01:01 we've been better in the last three games than the opponents and we deserve to be in
01:06 the position that we are in, a really strong position for the international break. It gives
01:10 us some momentum. We need to get players back because at the moment we have eight players
01:14 not available and that's a lot. In December we have 11 games coming up so we better get
01:20 everybody back quickly.
01:22 How do you feel about the way you've been playing against the Chakers?
01:27 Very happy with him. Especially against these teams, the fluidity and the strength that
01:32 he gives, the way he progresses the ball, the spaces that he occupies and gets available
01:37 for other players I think is critical. His defending part I really like today, how committed
01:42 he was in every defending action. The goal he scored is a really good example. I was
01:47 living the game when the ball is far from him. That's why he's first on the ball,
01:51 that's why he scores the goal. That's what we need from him.
01:54 How do you feel about the way you've been playing against the Chakers?
01:57 Toss-up score again, seven for goal I think, Saka assists, he's assisted them all. It
02:02 was a really brave finish as well wasn't it to give you that extra ball of bravery?
02:06 Pull your body over the line to score if it's necessary and he's done it. It's
02:10 the thousandth goal at the Emirates, a beautiful number. So, very happy with him. I think every
02:18 time you ask him to play, whether it's wide or as a nine, it flows and he's a real
02:23 threat so really happy with him.
02:25 Ben White was added to the list of players you mentioned. Can you elaborate on what the
02:32 issues he was suffering with, where and when he might be back?
02:36 Yesterday in training he wasn't comfortable, he didn't look right. Ben won't give you
02:40 much. He always wants to be on the pitch and he wants to hide anything that is in there.
02:45 We highlighted that we noticed in the last few weeks as well something happening there
02:50 and we wanted to protect him. It was the right call from the physio and medical department
02:56 and tomorrow we'll assess him and understand what's happening.
02:59 Can you say about his connections with his teammates?
03:10 That's the word. I think he connects everybody. He's so intelligent, he moves in spaces
03:14 in ways that attracts people and generates spaces and options for people. Today he's
03:21 done it really good because it was very difficult. The spaces were so small to attack and he
03:26 gave us a lot of threat and possibilities to connect and find spaces for us.
03:31 What's the reaction of the coach to the injury?
03:38 He had a few bad cuts I think so he could not sort it out on the pitch. They decided
03:43 to take it out and hopefully he's fine. I think it was really good again today the way
03:48 this guy is competing, coaching and supporting the team in any way. Really happy with him.
03:53 Is he happy with his international career?
03:58 Very happy. For any player that can represent his country and I know what Italy means for
04:03 him he was desperate to be involved and he fully deserves it in my opinion.
04:07 After clustering the post from the first half, then gets off, Carrion obviously, the next
04:13 two goals were as a result of Trostar's goal. What did you think that shows by adversity
04:18 to be able to take that on and carry on?
04:24 Be consistent and go and try and force errors and force mistakes and take courage to go
04:30 again and the team I think in the last two or three games has been much more courageous
04:35 in that sense. Today we got so many times in the final third, we pushed so many times
04:39 the ball in the box, we sustained attack spaces and then it becomes really difficult for the
04:43 opponent.
04:44 How do you feel the goals came from corners?
04:54 I'm big lads. Will is a real presence but he hasn't shown yet that skill consistently
05:01 and we are really working with him because he can be much more dominant and the goal
05:05 today is a real example of that and credit to all the coaches as well and him for the
05:10 work that they are doing. We are the team that generates more set pieces. The teams
05:14 are really low against us and really preventing spaces so it's a real good way for us to
05:20 score goals as well.
05:21 How is Martin Mikel and will he be going away with Norway?
05:26 I don't know. I'm going to have a meeting now with the medical department and Edu to
05:30 understand everybody's situation. I think he's going to be back after the international
05:35 break but I don't know exactly what's the decision and the communication at the moment.
05:39 Will he be able to play in the next 90 minutes?
05:51 Only in his eye. He had a problem with his lens but the rest he was top. Really good
05:56 performance to me actually.
05:57 Is it good to be in that position just behind the break or chasing for when you come back?
06:09 I prefer to be at the top but this is what we have to do. We showed a lot of consistency
06:16 both in the way we are playing and competing and in terms of results. Let's carry on.
06:21 We get some momentum now and get some players back and let's go again.
06:25 Are you going to take a break for the sunshine?
06:28 Sunshine I'm not sure because I'm probably going to stay in London so I doubt the sunshine
06:31 but I'm sure I will have some really beautiful family time, friends and enjoy a few days
06:38 off for sure.
06:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]