Can we have a squad update and on the availability of Aaron Ramsey?
Aaron is not available for tomorrow, Steven Davis is not available, Diallo's not available, Ryan Jack's not available and Helander's not available.
Do results need to be pretty much perfect from now on?
Yeah, I think it's quite clear now that we are coming into the end of the season with the last 10 games and they are all important. We need to get three points in every game. We're very disappointed, of course, with the draw we had at the weekend but it's a new game, a new challenge and we have to have the three points tomorrow.
How does Roy Makaay manage the players he's working with?
Its the job for all of us to make sure we're creating the chances we want to create but more important to convert the chances into goals. In the last games in the league when we've created a lot of chances but didn't convert as many as we wanted, that's why we had the draws so obviously it's a point we need to improve. He's talking a lot with the players, he's doing a lot of finishing on goal with the strikers and midfield players. We're looking into images of games so yeah, we need to improve that area so we are working on that and hopefully tomorrow we will see a difference.
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Did you expect it to be as intense as this when you first came in?
Well, I know the club. I know the feeling of becoming a manager of a big club. It comes with pressure, it comes with questions. For me, that's what I expected, but for me, the most important thing is to be clear on the path we want to go, how we want to play and I know I'm responsible for the tactics, for picking the starting line-up so I don't need any advice or influence. Of course, people will talk about it in a very good way and in a negative way when the results aren't there but I just have to be clear in my head and go on the path I want to go with my team and with the club. That's the most important thing, everyone is entitled to comment or criticise, that's the beauty of football. Everyone can mingle, everyone has their opinions but in the end, I have to make my decisions how I want to make them and that's only with my own thinking in mind.
Has it been a frustration that Aaron Ramsey hasn't made more of an impact and do you have a timeline when he'll be available?
I don't have a clear timeline, hopefully, he will join the team very soon. He's working on the pitch again. Hopefully, in the near future, we can welcome him back in the squad. Of course, we wanted Aaron to be involved more than he is now but the most disappointed is Aaron himself but it's football. You almost never get the ideal scenario as a coach, you always have things that will happen every week due to circumstances. It's just a case that you handle those situations well for the players, for us as a team in general and just move forward. Hopefully, Aaron as well as all the other players who cannot be involved tomorrow can be with the team soon.
Does the league being so competitive make it tougher to get points?
Yeah, it's normal, every club has it's own ambitions and it's own goals in the season. It can go from being champion, qualifying for Europe, avoiding relegation. All the teams now, with 10 games left, will do anything to win those games, that's normal in the season. It's never easy to win games in this league, we have seen that already this season so we just have to continue. After 38 games, the one who's on top is the champions, it's as simple as that. We still have 10 games to go, we are there for the fight and we have to continue.
With the fixture schedule, will you need to look at squad rotation to ensure the players remain fresh?
You definitely look at how players will feel but you have to play the strongest team possible in every game we play from now on. Of course, physically it's a big factor but you cannot rest players. We have players feeling ok and feeling fresh, we have to start with our strongest team possible.
In terms of the players out, what’s the information on the injuries?
Probably Filip Helander and Ryan Jack will be back for the weekend. Amad Diallo will be sometime next week.
When you came in you had a good defensive record but now goals are being conceded. What are you doing to rectify that?
It’s two-sided. The first thing is to score more goals with the chances we have. We are not losing many chnces against us but we have to be more ruthless, especially at the weekend when we had a two goal advantage and we weren’t defending really well for the two goals we had against us. So it’s both ways, defend better in the chances we give away and score more goals with the chances we create. Especially in the games when we are not scoring as many goals as you want or can. The goals against you can cost you a lot of points and that’s what we have had in the last couple of months.
Will you be looking at squad rotation?
You definitely have to look at how the players will feel but you have to play the strongest team possible in every game we play from now on. Of course, physicality is a big factor but you can’t rest players if they are feeling okay and fresh. We have to start with our strongest team possible.
How do you remove individual errors?
It’s difficult. When you analyse goals against you sometimes it doesn’t go well or wrong. This is normal with goals. We always know when conceding goals players will get the blame based on whose fault it was but I think we have to take responsibility as a team. Myself also as a coach. We need to improve the moments we didn’t do well so the next time we face those moments we do better. We win as a team and we draw and lose as a team. You don’t want to make errors but you also know that football is a game of mistakes and they can happen at any time. You have to make sure you overcome them and you turn them into goals.
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