What was it about Lewis Hall that made you so confident he was ready to start the game and on the left of a back three?
“It was his performance in general and his attitude in training. The quality he showed was very calm and very good in our possession games and the little games he trained in. We never really trained with the full squad so it was more small-sided games but he was good. He deserved to start and we needed a pause for Toni (Rudgier), Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) and Marcos (Alonso) in defence and that’s why. We had three defenders left and he was one of them. It was very clear what we demand from the players in the position and that helps them. It’s a very supportive dressing room and there is supportive attitude from all the more experienced players so this is very good for the young boys. In the end, they have to step up and show what they are capable of. They did again. They did against Brentford, the guys who played, and today they did their best to help us win this match. It’s good. There is no need to talk it down artificially but there is no need to get super overwhelmed because we played against a fifth division team and he is part of a strong squad. So put the things in relation to the demands and we can continue I think.”
Are you happy with the attitude of your side today?
“I am happy with the attitude with how we start. We started strong and well. We decided the match very early and this is what we wanted. After the 5-0, we made some changes in crucial positions and had some players who lacked a bit of rhythm and confidence in the position they had to play. In the last 15 minutes, I would have liked them to take more chances and be more clinical in finishing but OK. The job is done and we decided the match in the first half which is very good.”
Will this game prove important for you given the rest it enabled a few players to get?
“Yes, but we don’t only have one game [rest]. We have Wednesday, Saturday away and Tuesday then on Sunday. They are tough matches coming up. It was simply the moment and it was a different level of intensity to play in the Premier League or against a fifth division team with all due respect. It was good to share the minutes, manage some players to rest, and to be in the best shape possible for the upcoming games. Let’s see and we constantly have to adapt because the situation can change any day with the testing and from there we go.”
