Interim Southampton coach Rusk on 2-1 exit to Liverpool

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Interim Southampton coach Rusk on 2-1 exit to Liverpool  18/12/2024  ST Mary's stadium, Southampton, UK

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00:00Is that second half performance the same as we need to see for us this season?

00:08Yeah, I think so. I think the first half obviously our priority going into the game was to be

00:13hard to beat, given the nature of the game on Sunday. So I think probably expected in

00:22some way, shape or form that we might not have the footprint in the game we want in

00:26the first half. I think the priority for us was getting it at half-time and make sure

00:31we're in the game as a basic principle. And then grow into it. Obviously the nature of

00:35the first goal is a little bit misfortunate really. But as you say, I thought in the second

00:41half the guys stood up to it and didn't wilt and grew into the game. And maybe on another

00:46day we go and nick the second.

00:47Can you give us a flavour of what half-time looked like? Was it yourself delivering the

00:48messages or was it the player then?

00:49No, it was myself. I think obviously as normal. I spoke the other day about running my own

00:58process for a game. So I'd always give the players a space at the start to understand

01:04the feeling and where they're at and how we feel the game is planned going. And then obviously

01:09discuss what's going to be important in the next 45 minutes. So from my point of view,

01:13business as normal. I listen to players. But ultimately I direct it where I think it needs

01:18to go.

01:19How do you feel about the last-minute decision of Juan So and Fernandes potentially a red

01:23card?

01:24I've only seen it one angle at the moment. I think you can get it. You cannot get it

01:33that one. I probably need to see it in a couple more angles before I'm a little bit more conclusive

01:38about my opinion. But I felt my natural instinct was it was a foul. Maybe we didn't get the

01:45rub of the green with that at the end of the day and we didn't get it. So we moved forwards.

01:48Yesterday you said to us that you would collaborate with the players a little bit to work out

01:52what sort of team and what shape they want in today. What did they tell you they wanted

01:56from the game?

01:57No, I don't think it was about the players in a black and white fashion telling me what

02:00they want from the game. Obviously they were hurting from the other day and without doubt

02:05they need some form of leadership and direction and obviously that's my job. But I think it

02:10was important for me to understand where the group was at physically and mentally probably

02:15more than where we were at tactically. We devised a game plan from there to be very

02:25hard to beat and that requires bodies and then be good on the counter. But there wasn't

02:31much time to turn this game around and you can only work on so much. You can't overload

02:36them with information when there's going to be adaptation and change anyway. I'm really

02:40encouraged by the second half. I think that's what we have to focus on now. They showed

02:45belief in themselves, they showed character, they stood up, the fans were behind them and

02:50I think hopefully that second half is enough of a catalyst for the guys.

02:53How were they emotionally and mentally yesterday when you first spoke to them, given the change

02:58going on?

02:59Yeah, look, I think ultimately they were obviously reflecting upon the change, I'm sure, as people

03:08that took place but ultimately professionals. Prepare for the next game, that's what we

03:14all have to do, that's what they know, it's the only way forwards. So they were fine.

03:19I'm sure that in the background one or two of them were disappointed but ultimately we

03:25have a responsibility at any club you're at to go and try and win the next game of football

03:29and the players' commitment level and their receptiveness to how I was working has been

03:33second to none.

03:35What will the next couple of days look like for you and the players?

03:42Yeah, the guys are scheduled for a day off tomorrow and the players will be back in the

03:46following day. So I'm sure, as I said the other day, the communication has been really

03:50clear and excellent and I'm guessing that I'll be getting some communication about how

03:55the next couple of days are going to look. But at this moment in time, my focus was the

04:00Liverpool game so I'm not sure yet.

04:03How was James Creek?

04:06Yeah, I think there was a little bit of uncertainty about whether it was a contact injury or whether

04:11it was something muscular. So I'm still not sure actually what that is at the moment so

04:16we'll have to wait for the fallout from that one.

04:17What's your take on Cameron Archer?

04:20Yeah, and again, we discussed as a team maybe simplifying our actions in the first half

04:28which meant from time to time we were going to ask Cam in moments in the game maybe to

04:33try and hold the ball up for us if we were going for goal kicks in and around that area.

04:39It was a hard task but I thought he gave it everything and in the end, in the second half,

04:44it's a fabulous, fabulous goal. So I thought his contribution was excellent and he'd had

04:51a bit of a cold and wasn't feeling so well the last couple of days so it was in my thinking

04:54as well to make sure we looked after him in terms of freshness and energy but I thought

04:59the goal was excellent.

05:00I imagine it's been very hectic but how much have you been able to enjoy the last 24 hours?

05:05Yeah, I think really I've been that focused. I'm sure whatever the fallout of this is,

05:10as I touched on the other day, the last thing I wanted to do was make the last couple of

05:13days about me. It was all about the players and what do they need next and what does the

05:18club need as well. So yeah, as I said, it was, I guess really I didn't see it as something

05:24I'd be enjoying tonight. We all put ourselves under the pressure and scrutiny as individuals

05:29in football to perform and I just looked at it as I've got to go and perform and be part

05:34of that performance with the players and that was all I was thinking about.

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