ryan mason tottenham
That defeat must really hurt after such a good fightback from the team?
It is hard to put into words to be perfectly honest. How the game went and obviously equalising at the end, fully deserved. To gift them the winner at the end is impossible to take at this minute.
Can you take positives from that performance?
It is just hard to think of any positives at the moment. We know with the ball we are an exceptional team, we can score goals and hurt anyone in this league with the ball, but you don’t just win games just with the ball and when you literally give the opposition four goals without having to earn it, it makes it very difficult.
At the same time we probably could have scored three of four more. I felt like we were probably the better team overall in terms of creating opportunities, but to give the opposition goals it makes it difficult to win games of football.
What is the overriding feeling after that?
Disappointment, anger so much emotion going through my body and everyone’s body at the moment. Not only the players in the changing room but staff and I’m sure fans at home as well because the manner we conceded that last goal off the back of equalising at the end is just hard to really put into words.
Is there any comfort that one week ago it was an embarrassment at Newcastle but this at least you can say we were extremely unlucky to lose the game?
I wouldn’t say we were unlucky. I would say we helped Liverpool. I don’t think there was luck involved, because they were clinical, even the moment at the end from a player that shouldn’t be on the pitch, he took the finish well. So it’s hard to really take – difficult to put into words at the moment. It’s really tough.
Did you feel it should’ve been a red card for Jota?
I would like an explanation and a reason why it wasn’t. I can understand referees and officials on the pitch missing it even though my feeling was an instant red card because when your foot is studs showing and you’re five and a half feet off the ground and make contact with a player’s head and draw blood, and there is a gash, I think it ticks all the boxes.
Probably more so an experienced referee in the VAR room, you want him to help the official on the pitch in that moment. Listen, it’s decided the game because that player on the pitch shouldn’t have been on there at the end decided the game. I’m pretty sure most football people’s opinions will probably feel the same.
You were caught on camera at one point saying it is because of this place, how much of a factor was Anfield in the decision?
I feel like those questions are not for me. I felt like we didn’t get that decision, it was a big decision, a crucial decision and one you can’t really miss. I find it hard and impossible to really understand why.
Of course we’re just so disappointed because we came here today and created so many chances. On another day we win it with ease in the way we played today but the Premier League’s relentless, you have to be ready every single game to fight and we helped Liverpool today.
Is top four now gone?
Listen, I’ve been quite consistent over the last four or five days when I’ve spoken to all of you. My priority is to to get some togetherness, create some good feelings and energy around the place and bring our fans with us. The only way to do that is winning matches so it’s difficult to take. But I thought our fans were outstanding today, we felt them with us the whole game and probably we don’t have that comeback and that much energy without them. So we understand we need them. We understand we need to earn them as well. We’re just devastated in the way we lost the game.
What was going through your mind when it was 3-0 after 15 minutes given what happened at Newcastle? What do you put it down to?
Obviously in that moment I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a bit of fear. Because to concede three goals in 15 minutes is not a normal situation. We have to understand that the Premier League is relentless. It’s relentless for 95 minutes. It always has been and it always will be. If you’re not ready for a five or 10 minute spell, then the game can get away from you. We’ve seen that in the last couple of away games. To go 3-0 down away from home, it makes it near on impossible to win a game, so it’s hard to understand why. We addressed it and we’re fully aware of it but it’s something we need to be better at, that’s for sure.
