The manager was speaking after his team's 2-1 win over Dundee United.
What was your reaction to the game?
It’s three points, the most important thing today was to get back to winning ways. We started really well and in the second half scored the second goal early. You could see after we conceded the first goal ‘what ifs’ in the player's minds. Although we had chances to kill the game at 2-1 and didn’t take then. I’m really happy to finish this block with a win because now we have two weeks before the game against Hearts. The most important thing today was the win.
Why was there that indecision you allude to?
Mentally it’s difficult when you have three defeats in a row, it can affect you. Today at moments in the game it did. When you see the decision-making we had on the pitch wasn’t as it had to be. That’s the most difficult thing in moments of stress to keep focusing on your task and play. In moments of the game, you could see we didn’t do that well. In the end, I think this game should have been decided already early. Last season we played many of these games, eventually conceded a late goal and dropped points. Today I was happy we took the three points.
Was there a mental tiredness more than physical?
I think it’s more mentally. We made some changes in the line-up, your mental ability to keep calm and decide what to do in key moments, that’s the most important tool you have as a football player. It all starts in the head. Johan Cruyff always said “football starts in the head and your feet will follow”. He was right almost every time and it’s true, you play with your brain.
How did Charlie McCann do?
Charlie did well, his development has been amazing. We don’t have him in the Champions League squad but he is training really well. It’s good we started with two academy players for the club. They both deserved to be in the line-up. Charlie you can see the ability he has, quickens play at moments. He had some chances as well and that’s something he has to improve.
Did the drop in intensity concern you?
That’s what we have to do better. We had some really good early chances and shooting opportunities. If you start the game well at home it can be decided in the first 20 and that makes it easier. Now with 2-1, they brought a lot of speed to hurt us in transition. You have to be mentally strong to be decisive. Especially in the first 20 minutes, we could have scored two more goals easily.
Is it concerning that goals aren’t coming from midfield?
[Antonio Colak] started the game well. Before the three defeats, we had players scoring from midfield. Tom Lawrence started the season well and hopefully, he will be back after the break. Ryan Kent is a player who is dangerous but needs to improve his scoring, he knows that. Rabbi [Matondo] is one of the players I didn’t pick today because we had to go from 23 to 20. That’s always difficult. We will improve the players we have and make sure we develop as a team.
Can you give us an injury update?
John Souttar and Filip Helander will take longer [to come back], they won’t be back after the break. Tom Lawrence has a good chance to be available again and Kemar [Roofe] we will have to see, is a player who can come back really quick or take a longer time. Lawrence has two weeks in the break to recover and it will be close for Hearts.
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