Unai – your thoughts on that result and performance?
Good performance, trying to improve the match we played against Brentford. The first half we controlled the game like we were speaking about how we do. We stopped their transition and their moment with the ball. Defensively we needed less than normally. Then, with the ball, try to occupy good spaces and keep ball possession for longer. We did it. We scored one goal as well, a set-piece. The second half the match changed a little bit and maybe we were more tired. We needed to be strong and didn’t control the game like we did in the first half. But we did it. The first half was the way I want.
How happy are you with Tyrone Mings getting the goal given how well he’s been playing…
Yes, we must add players scoring goals, not only strikers or wingers or midfielders like Saturday with Douglas Luiz. But as well our centre-backs and we are happy with him. In every match I am demanding more set-pieces to score for Tyrone and Konsa as well.
Have you been joking with Tyrone about not scoring enough goals?
I am pushing him in training when we are preparing for set-pieces. I was telling him he’s a tall player and we have to use you to combine with you. You have to believe in yourself, you have to do it! Today was very good because we won 1-0 and it was through him and that’s important.
Unai – you’re now in fifth in the Premier League. Is Europe an expectation now?
I have to be ambitious and realistic and to play under pressure because I like pressure. If we’re playing under pressure it means we have something to do. We are now candidates. We are fifth but Tottenham play tomorrow and Liverpool have played one match less than us; Brighton three matches less than us. We are going to play against them and, OK, I think our matches could be key matches to really keep being candidates to get European position. The dreams are here, OK, it’s good. It’s good for everybody and we can share with supporters. I am speaking with the team and I’m trying to play key matches. Today was a key match because Fulham, two months ago, was our target because they were better than us in the table. We tried to arrive on day 33, like today, playing against them with the possibility to go above them and we did it. In the table we are ahead of them. We have nine points difference compared to them. To be in the top ten we are close to getting it. The next step is European competition.
Are you getting better every week?
Yes but we are coming back. On Saturday against Brentford we didn’t play as usual. The first half today I enjoyed because we played with control of the ball. The players are feeling good when we need to defend. Being brilliant at defending is good to feel it. The second half we did it. We were speaking about scoring the second goal and controlling the positioning but the opponents are playing as well. Maybe today we didn’t play for 90 minutes with a lot of energy compared to Newcastle. But when we needed to compete differently, we did it.
Are you surprised given the dramatic turnaround here?
No, I’m not surprised. We have to practice and be demanding – and Tyrone Mings he wants to improve. The players are being humble to practice more, to get information, to learn because I tell them I am learning from you. You are teaching me as well when I watch the matches. I have to support them with my experiences. They have to be committed. They are doing it. When we are winning, they can believe more. But even if we are not believing, we have to continue in our way. That’s the process. Like when we lost three matches in a row it was an upsetting moment but, again, we come back and the players were humble and continued to take information.
Unai – you like to play under pressure. Manchester United have something on the line, you’ll like this game on Sunday, won’t you?
Yes, yes! Today I am now going to enjoy the match on Sunday. I start now. I am going to prepare for that match today against Manchester United. It’s to play now and for us to be candidates in the European position, phew, I’m very, very excited. The supporters are going to be with us travelling away. I am going to enjoy, starting from today.
You must have fond memories of playing them in your first game here, too…
Yes but this will be very different. We won here but we lost after in the Carabao Cup. United have good players and coach. I think if we are now competing like we are doing and being a candidate in the European position, it’s a good moment for us.
