Bad luck, you must be very proud of the team?
Bad luck? I don’t think it’s bad luck. We tried to play our best Chelsea were too good on the day for us. We tried to frustrate them and I think we did that in the first half. But we tried our best and today wasn’t enough against a really good side.
Couldn’t make your moments count?
Big games like that, against really good teams, you need to take your chances and we didn’t. We had a couple of chances but a few situations where we didn’t find the front two quick enough so they closed the gap straight away. We didn’t always make the right decision but I am really proud of the team for their approach to the game. In the first half, we were brilliant. But we couldn’t score the goal.
Tyrick Mitchell looked really upset, did you console him?
He will be okay. These kinds of games will build him and teach him how to manage emotions. The more games he plays like that, the better it will be for him and the rest of the young players that we have.
What was the difference in the second half?
The way they moved the ball in the second half, we ran quite a lot and at times we got a little bit frustrated and we started to not put so much pressure on the ball. Jorginho started getting on the ball and it was really difficult for us because that allowed him to make better decisions. We have to keep improving and this is the aspect of the game – not getting frustrated – that we need to keep working together. But this is a team that won the Champions League, the FA Cup. They are in a different level than us but I’m proud about the way we approached the game, the way that we made it difficult for them. We have to build from those kinds of performances.
Jordan Ayew on to stop Jorginho?
We had some issues on the right-hand side where Reece James was getting too much on the ball and we were suffering because our front two were working really hard. We switched to a four that allowed us to be a little bit more supportive on the side. But on the other side, we dropped a little bit too much and that allowed Jorginho to get on the ball more.
Thinking behind formation change? Want to match Chelsea?
It was just too match their front five and not give them that opportunity to run between our normal platform. When we played them at Selhurst, we suffered a lot. They were creating the overload on the side and they made it very difficult for us. So the plan was to match them.
Needed all the small things to go right today?
Yes, but this is the quality of the team we faced today. We played a back five to match their front five but doing that you create other problems. In the first half we were good, we frustrated them a lot and they didn’t create many situations. But this is the way.
Michael Olise and Conor Gallagher would have changed your plans?
It’s difficult to answer that question as they were not there so we had to make a decision and that is it.
The fans were unbelievable, do they provide the platform to make sure you can get to this stage more regularly?
Players smell the test of these games where you’re close to a final. These moments players want to play more often. The fans were excited for us, they support us through the competition and the league. There’s excitement around the fans and the club. It’s important to build from that platform we’re putting in place. It’s an exciting period for the club and we have to keep going.
Do you feel like a Premier League manager now?
I think as a manager, you always learn about yourself and about the team and the players that you have around. I’m really happy to be back in the Premier League. This is the highest level of our game. The atmosphere – you can look at today or the atmosphere in every stadium is really exciting and you want to get involved. But you know, I’m in a really good place. I’m in a wonderful football club, surrounded by good people who want to take the football club to a different level. We have to keep working.
Cheikhou Kouyate performance?
I knew he could play in that position as last year, two years ago, he played games at centre-back. He has experience of a high level and he’s surrounded by Joel Ward and Joachim Andersen who can help him on his positioning. Today, they were fantastic. Marc and Joel were brilliant too. I’m really pleased with the tactical approach but when you don’t win the game it is frustrating.
Hard to tell Nathaniel Clyne he wasn’t playing?
Yes. It was difficult not playing Clyney. It was difficult not paying Jordan. It was difficult not playing Michael even if he hasn’t trained in the last few weeks. This is a position I want to be in at the football club. I want them to make it difficult for me to choose the starting XI and when we do that it shows we’re in a good place.
You’ve gone toe to toe with so many good teams but couldn’t get it done today. Do you need that slice of luck?
I think if you need to win the games against those teams who are used to playing in the semi-finals and finals then yes. International players from their goalkeeper to their strikers – it makes it difficult. We play Liverpool and it was tough and difficult as well. There are those teams and then there is us. We want to build a team with the values we have as a football club and to compete. And today we competed well but there’s still a difference between the two football clubs.
