Was that the perfect response from the players?
For sure it was important. It was important to get three points, a good win, to score four goals, don’t concede a goal. It was really, really important. There are moments when you need this type of performance and today we did it. It wasn’t easy. Don’t forget that to play against Crystal Palace away is not easy. If I’m not mistaken they beat us 3-0 last season. This is always a really difficult pitch to play. Today I think that I have many things to be happy about, especially also for the young players. We are facing a difficult situation without important players, especially up front. Today also Bissouma was banned for one game. Rodrigo is injured, also in midfield we were in a bit of trouble. Instead good answer from Skippy and a good answer from Pape Sarr. I was happy for Gil, because Gil is going to improve game by game. We are talking about young players. Also Sessegnon, he is only 22-years-old. Also Emerson is 23. We are talking about young players. To see that you can count on them makes me happy. Then also, it’s important because we can create competition into the team and the squad.
How important was that performance for Bryan Gil to believe himself that he can make an impact in the Premier League?
It was really important, you know about Bryan Gil we are talking about a player who was born to play football. He understands football quickly. He’s so clever, so intelligent to understand the situation. Then you know this league is difficult, because you have to be good in quality and be fast and to have good endurance and he has this type of quality.
But at the same time you have to be strong physically. I think compared to last season Gil is improving a lot also under this aspect. He has to become stronger physically. I compared him to Bernardo Silva, at Manchester City, because in my opinion they are really, really similar. He has to continue to work really strongly on the physical aspect because I repeat we are talking about a player with great quality.
Can a game like that be a turning point for the second half of the season?
It’s always important to get three points and have this type of win because this win brings confidence. In the game against Aston Villa, after in my opinion a good first half, because I was really satisfied after the first half against Villa, instead in the second half we conceded the goal and our confidence dropped a lot and you know to recover in two or three days after a defeat at home where the expectations were to win, and to go again in a really good position in the table, was not easy. It was not easy for the atmosphere for the players.
But the response today was really good. I think my players showed every time great character, great personality in every situation. Then you can win or lose but the most important thing is that you stay on the pitch with the will and the desire to fight until the end.
Maybe in the second part of the game against Aston Villa the confidence dropped a lot and my players felt they didn’t deserve to stay 1-0, 2-0 down and to lose the game. Maybe it was the only game that we didn’t have a strong reaction.
Can the players take this fight now up against a team in the next Premier League game in Arsenal that is full of fighters?
Today is an important win, as you said, we know after Saturday in the FA Cup we face Arsenal and Manchester City, the two title contenders for this Premier League. To arrive with a good win is really important. My hope is to recover players who are in this moment injured, because we are talking about important players. I hope in these 10 days to have the possibility in the next game against Arsenal to have all of the players available. I’m talking about Richarlison, Bentancur, Kulusevski and also Bissouma today was out, but today Skipp and Sarr showed they they are really reliable players for me and I’m really happy. We exploited the period of the World Cup to work with these young players to improve themselves under the tactical aspect and physical aspect. Now they stay with us in the squad. I don’t want to send these young players on loan because the league is very difficult. We have to play Champions League, we have to play FA Cup. I think these young players can stay here to help us face these three competitions.
Two more goals for Harry Kane, did today again show why he might be the most complete player in the Premier League?
Yeah but to speak about Harry we waste time to explain about the type of player he is. I repeat we are talking about a really world class striker and he is going to beat every record with the goals. For us, he’s an important point of reference not only with the goals but on the pitch, with Hugo our captain. Especially in the difficult moments, you know Harry is on the pitch, ready to fight, ready to help his team-mates, ready to sort the situation with goals and assists. We need to continue this way and face every situation positive or negative with great spirit and character. I think this period and also before the start of the World Cup we faced a period with great difficulties for injuries and now in a short period we can have a whole squad available and for me it’s very important because to play against Arsenal and City and in the Champions League with all the players available, it will be very important for us and also to understand our level compared with these teams.
