#PLStories- Patrick Vieira on Everton game, vaccination passports, injury updates and more #CPFC
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Team news?
The team news is Joachim took some part of training the last couple of days with the team. And Nathan and Eze are doing well.
What’s gone wrong recently?
I think the last four games, one point is not what we wanted of course. The results weren’t what we wanted and expected but on the other side, we have to look at how we performed. We lost some games we deserved at least a point from. The two games played away from home we may not have created enough to win but on the other side we didn’t concede enough [chances] to lose. We need to find a balance and really understand the importance of taking our chances against any team. That was the hard learning we had in the last couple of games.
Not the right time to play Everton?
We never think there is a really good time to play any team. It’s just about how can we, as a team, improve from our last game? How can we do what we need to do to manage to have more chance of winning the Everton game? I’m not going to throw away all the good things that we’ve been doing the last couple of months. The result wasn’t what we wanted. But on the other side, I think some of the performances were good. There’s a lot of positiveness to take from those games. And now we have to turn that around to win. And to do that we need to score those goals that we are creating.
Would you be happy with mandatory vaccinations?
It’s not my place to say about what has to be mandatory or not. I think we are like everybody outside. There is a process that we have to follow by the government’s rules. And we are all in this football club going to follow those rules. And I think there are some specialists who will have to say if that has to be mandatory or not to have the vaccine or if you need these kinds of passes to go into the stadium. But the only thing that I can tell you is that I have had the double vaccination and I strongly believe that we need to have it. But I think everybody has to make their own decision on that side.
Are you satisfied with regard to how many players are double vaccinated?
No, I don’t want to share that. I don’t want to talk about it. What I can tell you is that in our football club, we are quite really strong on the protocols that the medical staff put in place. And we are really demanding on the players on that side to be really disciplined to think about how they live life outside of the training facility because I think everything is in place here to really follow what they are doing and how we are doing it. But outside of the training facility, we ask them, we spend time talking to them and our doctor is doing a fantastic job on that side.
Brighton vs Tottenham postponed – are you fearful this is the start of another staggered season?
I’m just like everybody else. I think we are all worried about the increase of positive cases, not just in football, but in our society. Everywhere else, I think the cases are getting more and more. And if outside the cases are more, obviously there will be more in any kind of football club. So we just have to be careful and hopefully, everybody will get a little bit more attention about how we socialise from outside of the training facility.
You said players lacked bravery at Old Trafford – Is it difficult to generate that bravery when you’re in a bit of a sticky patch?
When you look at the game and you’re looking at the possession that we had and what did we use when we had that possession, I think it wasn’t good enough. I think we are capable of doing more on that side of the game. And I think there was an opportunity where we could play more between the lines or find the players who were free between the line and we didn’t take it. And I think that is maybe the situation that we are at the moment are going to Old Trafford and that stadium. I think we didn’t play with this kind of freedom that we showed since the beginning of the season.
What did you learn from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal about setbacks?
It’s about being consistent. When things were going well not to hype and when things not going as good as expected, not hitting your head against a wall. Consistency is the word going around the team because I don’t want to throw away the good work since the beginning of the season. We aren’t going through a good period but we expected that. The message is and the mood at the training ground is still the same. We know there are some details we need to improve to turn those games into wins.
What do you make of Everton? Did you watch their last game?
I didn’t need to watch the Arsenal game to know how good and dangerous this Everton team can be. I think when you look at the players, and you look at the manager, obviously, this is a good team. And, again, we are only talking about the games that they lost or their draws. But if you’re looking at the performances then I think there’s some positiveness that I’m sure the manager was happy about as well. And obviously, for us, it is going to be a challenging game but I believe that we have what it takes as well to win the game. And that’s going to be the priority – we want to perform. We want to focus on our performances to allow ourselves to win the game.
James McArthur update?
James is feeling better as well. He has started doing some individual training on the field, and this morning he took part in the first 15-20 minutes of the training session – but he will not be involved in the Everton game.
How do you change your mindset around conceding goals from set pieces?
The first is to be conscious about how can we be stronger on set-pieces and how can we score those chances that we are creating. . Secondly, we have to work on that on the field. I think there are some tools that we have in our football club that we can highlight the mistakes that we are making. And, and then yes, of course working on that on the field.
Frustrated at missed chances this season costing you points?
I’m frustrated because we need to score those goals because those had a massive impact on the result of the game. And if you scored first, the outcome of the game can be different. So this is something that we need to realise the importance of taking those chances.
Did you enjoy the Christmas period as a player?
Yes, I did. It is because I think the festive period, the atmosphere on the games and seeing the families and the kids and the atmosphere around the stadium was something that I liked when I was playing.
Nathan Ferguson return?
What will be important for him is to to do a couple of weeks of full training with the first team first and then yes, the next step for him will be to play at least one hour within the Under-23s before thinking about playing the first team
Is he in full training now with the first team?
He is doing full training now with the first team now.
What did you make of the FA Cup draw?
Another derby and in the FA Cup. It’s a difficult place to go to play. But this is the FA Cup and we want to do well in that competition. And we’re looking forward to it again.
How important will the fans be on Sunday?
I think the home game has come at the right time. When you need to win games, especially the next one, and are playing at home with the fans we know the support will be there. We will have to perform well and try to win that game. The fans will have a massive part to play in the performance and that’s why I’m looking forward to the game on Sunday.
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