External Noise Doesn’t Surprise Me, and This is the Team’s Situation
The coach commented on the team’s condition: “Jimmy Gittens will be out for a long time after suffering a hamstring tear, which is very unfortunate for him. I haven’t worked with him for long, but I am well aware of his talent. As for Reece James and Pedro Neto, we have to wait to see how ready they are.”
He added: “Yes, Cole Palmer and Estevao will be ready by the weekend. There is no specific timeline for Palmer’s return to his best form, and we are handling it on a match-by-match basis. The best position for Cole Palmer is being on the field.”
Regarding his anger towards Arsenal players in the last match during the warm-up, as some of the Gunners’ players were warming up nearby: “It wasn’t directed at the players themselves, as each team has its own space during warm-ups. I have never asked my players or the technical staff to encroach on the opposing team’s space, but I felt that our team’s warm-up was affected at that moment. I asked them to move away, and perhaps it wasn’t done in a polite manner, but I am not seeking any mind games. There are conventions that should be respected in football. I have great respect for Arsenal and hold Mikel Arteta in high regard, and what happened was just a momentary situation where I felt respect wasn’t shown to my team.”
Regarding the criticism after the loss to Arsenal: “The external noise doesn’t surprise me at all, and what happens outside the club doesn’t affect my decisions. After any match, you can think about things that could have been done differently, but the performance against Arsenal was very strong against a team that excels at playing on their home ground.”
Regarding the criticisms directed at Alejandro Garnacho: “I have spoken with all the players, and I don’t know where these criticisms of Garnacho are coming from. Yes, he had a tough half against West Ham, but he showed positive and remarkable moments when he played against Arsenal.”
Regarding managing Cole Palmer’s playing minutes: “Any coach wishes for all their players to be 100% ready all the time, but that’s not always possible. It’s not about frustration, but about trying to get the best out of the player and the team, while considering upcoming matches and ensuring the player feels comfortable and capable of contributing.”
He concluded: “What is your best lineup? I don’t believe in the idea of a best lineup consisting of 11 players. I have the best lineup to start and another to finish matches, and I am constantly learning about this group. The players know the journey I want to embark on with them.”
