Nuno Espirito Santo
What did you make of the performance tonight?
Not good, not good. First half we lost too many passes – and the goal came from that, we were imbalanced. But not a good performance, honestly not a good performance.
Did so many changes contribute to disjointed display?
Of course, players coming back, players that require… but the decision was basically trying to give them minutes. We need players to get minutes in their legs and increase their levels of fitness. But of course things take some time, it was not so good. But individually some players put in good situations, did the things that we want to build on. But as a team we were not organised enough and did not play the ball fast enough to break a team that was really compact and did not allow many spaces.
Did you underestimate them?
No, no, not at all. The decision was made, was time to think. I would decide exactly the same because the main question is to use the squad as we have a long way to go and we need all the players involved.
Does this lose the feelgood factor?
Of course it impacts a lot. Nobody likes to lose a game or not play good. The feel-good factor disappears. This is football. It is up and down but how you realise that this is the situation, they have to bounce back. This is what we are going to do. We are going to work tomorrow to prepare for the next one. The good part of football is that it gives you the chance immediately and we have a chance on Sunday.
Same team next week?
No I cannot answer that because we play Sunday and then we will decide to the next one.
Is there an update on Harry Kane’s situation?
He trained today. He trained with the group of players that stayed in England. He trained well and he is going to train tomorrow and when we return he will join all the players and work as the group and Harry in it.
You mentioned that some players brought positive things, who were they?
If you don’t mind, I would rather not talk about individuals.
What did you make of your three new signings today?
I think Pier had a good game. He was stable and in the action he had to do he did well. With the goal it was a one vs one situation and it was difficult. Romero he played a good game, intense and this is what we want from our defenders, to be strong in duels. I think Bryan started well, but that’s my responsibility. I think we still have to find the right position for him and give him exact tasks. In this game he changed two times his position and it’s not the best way to go to improve a player.
Do you need to be patient with Cristian Romero?
We need to be patient with all the players because the Premier League. When a player changes country we need to realise that we need to support him. But honestly I think with the quality and talent that Romero has his adaptation will be very fast.
Will he be in consideration for Sunday?
We have return, prepare for the next game. Work with all the group and on Saturday make a decision.
Same XI next week or regulars?
Charlie, maybe you make another question. The answer is we’ll focus on Wolves now and then we’ll think about the second leg.
What did you make of Dane Scarlett’s performance?
He’s young. He’s very young. He has talent. As a team we should have made more chances for him, we didn’t finish the actions, we didn’t make too many offensive situations for him to be able to even shoot on goal. That’s our responsibility. For Dane, it was good. The point when he realises he’s playing and he has to leave the game, he has to be faster on his decisions and his movement. With tough centre-halves on his back its difficult. So there’s things we have to improve and we’ll work on it. We honestly believe there’s a lot of potential there and we have to develop and improve it.
