antonio conte happy
How disappointed were you with your side’s defending tonight?
For sure we have to be disappointed because after our first half where we struggled a lot and I think they were good but I think we made many, many mistakes, many mistakes, especially with the ball. I think this type of situation created a bit of instability, mental instability in my team, especially in the first half. In the second half we started to play, we started to press in the right way and I didn’t change anything compared to the first half. In the second half we created chances to score but also in the first half. Every time we played the ball in the right way we created a situation to go to score, but I repeat we made many mistakes in the first half, important mistakes. In the second half we did well, we scored and then you have to be more good to defend because I have seen the two goals and we conceded twice with the defensive line that stayed there. We have to be more accurate but I know very well this season and I repeat, we are going to struggle to get three points. I say this before and I continue to repeat. I think that we are improving in many aspects but then we are still too emotional. Against Leicester we won 3-2 and we were losing 2-1. Today we were winning 2-1 and we lost 3-2. I think on this aspect we have to improve because if we want to grow as a team and try to be competitive, the first thing that you have to improve is stability, not to be up and down, up and down, up and down. I think that this is a situation that we have to improve and also I repeat, in a team it’s important to have players with experience to manage the situation during the game. I repeat it was a pity because my players they gave 120 per cent today and the effort was maximum. I cannot say that I don’t see the right attitude or the right commitment. I saw the maximum commitment. For this reason we have to try to avoid these defeats because today I felt we could have avoided this defeat, especially when you go 2-1 up and there are 15-20 minutes to play. We have to try to manage the situation in a better way but it happened and we have to take experience from this game and try to improve.
Why can’t your team resist the press?
I think the first half we have struggled a lot in the situation to put pressure, it was the same. It was the same in the second half. In the first half we were not so I don’t know, I don’t know why. I think in my opinion the first half we made many many mistakes with the ball and this created problems – also without the ball because when you lose confidence you lose confidence in every aspect, with and without the ball. Then after the first and second half I spoke with the players and said ok, football you can make a mistake but then you have to play again. Otherwise when you make a mistake and go down and don’t want to play, don’t want to press, don’t want to run – to protect yourself, and we are in trouble. I think this is what happened because in the second half I asked them to be brave, to have courage with the ball, without the ball and I think we played a good second half until the goal. Then we conceded two goals that for sure we could avoid. Because we were with the defensive line in the position and… yeah but I repeat these are part of the process and I repeat always the same thing, to get three points we have to struggle. We have to struggle and give 120 per cent, and I repeat the effort today was the maximum. I can’t tell you that my players the effort was not good, the commitment was not good – no. I have to tell thanks to my players because the commitments was top. But then you know you have to improve in many, many aspects – and we have a long, long road in front of us.
You mentioned the defensive line and having to be more accurate, what do you put the goals you conceded down to?
For sure you attack with ten players and you defend with ten players. When you concede a goal there is a kick and in the top angle you can only clap your opponent. Otherwise in every goal there are situations that you can improve. I think it’s normal when you conceded three goals. For sure, we scored two goals and the goals we scored there are situations that Southampton can improve. I repeat, we have to work and to know that our season will be tough. It will be tough, we have to know this. But I repeat I am pleased with the effort and commitment of my players. I ask them to always have personality, good personality and then during the game you can make mistakes but we have to try reduce mistakes and to improve in other aspects.
