Julen Lopetegui
Pleased with level of performance
“In the defensive phase, in the offensive phase, we tried to push and be aggressive with the ball and then try and attack when we had the opportunity to do it. Despite you doing this, against this sort of team, you can deserve to win but sometimes you don’t always get what you deserve. We are happy for today, it’s three points more, but it’s going to be a very long, hard ride and we must go till the end.”
The quality of the goal
“The goal is good news for the team which scores it, of course. We are happy for Nunes, because of the importance of it is the three points. It’s not only the goal, to have three points means you have done very good work. That’s why we are happy for the team, and it’s important to highlight the spirit the team showed in all the match. It doesn’t matter if the goal is very beautiful or not – to me, he scored!”
No Jimenez or Ait-Nouri…
“It’s a technical decision. I have to choose 20 players. We have to today think about who is best for the squad list, but for the future they are going to have to be ready because we are going to need all of the squad. We have to assess Matheus on Sunday. He has a very strong knock, we have to assess him. I don’t know right now.”
Taken some big scalps at home
“Yes, but we have lost to Leeds United, Bournemouth and Manchester United. We don’t know how! The Premier League is this, it’s the quality of the Premier League. We have to highlight this balance, in that any team can win, but you can lose to any team too, of course. That’s why we have to put the focus on the work that is in front of us.”
Cunha, Gomes, Toti…top class
“When the team is at a good level, all the players individually, they are winning. I prefer to highlight the whole team, but I agree that Gomes played a very good match – he’s very young, he doesn’t have a big experience in England, he has only played in Brazil. He’s starting his career, he is going to have a good future of course. I am pleased for him, for Toti and for all the players. I prefer to highlight the team, because we are going to need the whole team to achieve our aim of the season.”
Strong discipline
“I repeat, if you want to win these kind of matches, you have to be very professional in all the faces – you have to defend very well, they have top players in all positions and one of the best squads in the world. You have to defend very well and then we must attack. Today we scored, we didn’t suffer a goal.”
Better mentality than Chelsea?
“I am not one to talk about Chelsea. I can talk about our team. I have a big respect for the opponent, and I am pleased a lot for Frank – I congratulate him for this challenge that he has. I think he deserves the best, for Chelsea the same. We are focused on our job, we are happy for this win, but we have to start again tomorrow, thinking about the next three points against Brentford, who are one of the best teams this season. We have to be ready.”
