Re: MB'S PRESS CONFERENCES
Posted: 09 Jan 2019, 13:31
Lewis Baker situation
I have the same information as you. It’s not official yet, but it’s something true. It was something in the contract. Obviously Chelsea and Baker chose to use this article to go back.
Opinion on Baker and possible replacement
He was always inside the group. Even if it’s true he hasn’t played a lot. Maybe he felt we did not value him at the right level. The only time I talked to him about this subject I not only told him I wanted him to stay with us, I told him even into the next year I wanted to keep him, but I understand he took another decision. He had legitimate expectations to play more. The last game he played in the FA Cup, for me he has a positive performance and, for me, this was a starting point for his development inside the team, but I can understand he took a different decision.
Transfer priorities
First I will see what the possibilities are of the club to bring in players. What kind of players the club can add to the team. If they are better than what we have. Obviously we had Blackman with us, but not anymore. Saiz and Baker left and we didn’t want them to leave. When I say it was not our decision to make him leave, but me as the head coach, as a club, it was his decision.
I can’t ignore the fact we have lost many players in the past few weeks, but we can adapt to the situation. We can solve these difficulties. Dallas, Berardi, Blackman are not here, outside the group. Liam comes back to the group. Douglas is not in the group. A fifth absence is Kalvin Phillips, who is suspended. Saiz and Baker are not inside the group.
Bamford is absent too. Pablo Hernandez will find it hard in the next game, so we are missing many players, but for me, it’s not an excuse. We have the obligation to win the next game and we can win the next game. We just lost the last three games, the last one we deserved to lose, but the two Championship games, we didn’t deserve to lose them.
We have no excuses not to win against Derby. We have the players we need to reach the win with optimism. Obviously, it doesn’t matter if we have 10 players less or not.
Continued...
Making himself clearer on transfers:
We are lacking 10 players. If the club can bring players it will be only if they are better than what we have. In the next few weeks we will have Dallas with us, Berardi, Phillips, Brown, Bamford, Douglas all too. In 10 absences it will be a big reduction with these returning. That’s why I clearly say if nobody comes we will solve the problem anyway and I can’t give you the positions because it depends on the quality of the players we get. If we need a midfielder and if we can bring him here, but if he’s not good we won’t take him. We will add great players that will be better than those we have, that means an important investment for the club.
That can solve the fact Vieira left, Saiz left and Baker left. We were not expecting these exits. The main investment the club did couldn’t be an addition to us. The main investment was Bamford and he played for a short time, got injured, played for a short time and got injured. Blackman also got a six-month injury.
Dallas and Berardi also suffered severe injuries. The club can’t forecast all these things.
Do you recommend players?
No. He proposes to me, players and I give my opinion.
Unlikely a previously coached player will come here?
The one who is looking at the market is Victor and he looks at the window and tells me what are the possibilities and I give my point of view. I, honestly, haven’t mentioned any player I had before, but if it was the case I am sure he would talk about it with me.
Hernandez doubt
He could play on Friday. I can’t say 100 per cent he won’t play, but if there is even a small doubt I wouldn’t like to take any risks with him over another injury. If it’s up to him it’s a feeling. If it was up to him he would play because he’s a generous player. He should play only if we are sure it can’t get worse.
Important game - how significant to win and send message?
We need to win the game because we lost the last two, because we are playing a team going up (in form) and they are playing with a style and if we can win against them taking their style into account it would be very good for us.
Liam Cooper
I went to see the game on Monday versus Hull City. He played an hour. He is in good condition to come back to the team. He has a very good first pass, he is good with the aerial balls, he is our captain and he deserves to be our captain.
When he’s inside the team he makes the team stronger.
Will Cooper help with set-pieces?
Yes. When these players play, Ayling, Berardi, Phillips, Cooper, Jansson, we have great headers. When you don’t have them it affects the team.
Different Derby game to August?
Derby’s not the same team anymore. They are a lot better now as a team. I don’t think it’s going to be the same game. We have the conditions to try to win against this. We can’t rely on the fact we played against them five months ago. It will not be similar. Both teams are very different.
How are the rested players
Klich needed to rest to get some rest. He played all the games with us and his national team, Pablo had the injury that he still has now, Jansson had a small problem that is now over, Cooper came back after many several week's absences. And Roofe also had a small problem that is now also over. It was good also for him to get some rest.
How will you replace Pablo if he is out?
Roberts will play if Pablo doesn't play. He had three chances to score (against QPR) so this is very good for a no 10. Then in the build up of the offensive play he didn't have the same impact, he was influential because he participated in three important chances to score but he didn't build the offensive play that could help the team. Pablo builds the attacks and Tyler is more focused on finishing the attacks and with Klich he can adapt to any player that plays with him.
Barry Douglas latest
Between two and three weeks but I can't give you a final answer to that.
Would this be the most satisfying win if you can get it?
The problems that the teams has are not an excuse to try not to win the game. If you have a look, Douglas and Pablo are missing and we can find a solution for both positions.
I have the same information as you. It’s not official yet, but it’s something true. It was something in the contract. Obviously Chelsea and Baker chose to use this article to go back.
Opinion on Baker and possible replacement
He was always inside the group. Even if it’s true he hasn’t played a lot. Maybe he felt we did not value him at the right level. The only time I talked to him about this subject I not only told him I wanted him to stay with us, I told him even into the next year I wanted to keep him, but I understand he took another decision. He had legitimate expectations to play more. The last game he played in the FA Cup, for me he has a positive performance and, for me, this was a starting point for his development inside the team, but I can understand he took a different decision.
Transfer priorities
First I will see what the possibilities are of the club to bring in players. What kind of players the club can add to the team. If they are better than what we have. Obviously we had Blackman with us, but not anymore. Saiz and Baker left and we didn’t want them to leave. When I say it was not our decision to make him leave, but me as the head coach, as a club, it was his decision.
I can’t ignore the fact we have lost many players in the past few weeks, but we can adapt to the situation. We can solve these difficulties. Dallas, Berardi, Blackman are not here, outside the group. Liam comes back to the group. Douglas is not in the group. A fifth absence is Kalvin Phillips, who is suspended. Saiz and Baker are not inside the group.
Bamford is absent too. Pablo Hernandez will find it hard in the next game, so we are missing many players, but for me, it’s not an excuse. We have the obligation to win the next game and we can win the next game. We just lost the last three games, the last one we deserved to lose, but the two Championship games, we didn’t deserve to lose them.
We have no excuses not to win against Derby. We have the players we need to reach the win with optimism. Obviously, it doesn’t matter if we have 10 players less or not.
Continued...
Making himself clearer on transfers:
We are lacking 10 players. If the club can bring players it will be only if they are better than what we have. In the next few weeks we will have Dallas with us, Berardi, Phillips, Brown, Bamford, Douglas all too. In 10 absences it will be a big reduction with these returning. That’s why I clearly say if nobody comes we will solve the problem anyway and I can’t give you the positions because it depends on the quality of the players we get. If we need a midfielder and if we can bring him here, but if he’s not good we won’t take him. We will add great players that will be better than those we have, that means an important investment for the club.
That can solve the fact Vieira left, Saiz left and Baker left. We were not expecting these exits. The main investment the club did couldn’t be an addition to us. The main investment was Bamford and he played for a short time, got injured, played for a short time and got injured. Blackman also got a six-month injury.
Dallas and Berardi also suffered severe injuries. The club can’t forecast all these things.
Do you recommend players?
No. He proposes to me, players and I give my opinion.
Unlikely a previously coached player will come here?
The one who is looking at the market is Victor and he looks at the window and tells me what are the possibilities and I give my point of view. I, honestly, haven’t mentioned any player I had before, but if it was the case I am sure he would talk about it with me.
Hernandez doubt
He could play on Friday. I can’t say 100 per cent he won’t play, but if there is even a small doubt I wouldn’t like to take any risks with him over another injury. If it’s up to him it’s a feeling. If it was up to him he would play because he’s a generous player. He should play only if we are sure it can’t get worse.
Important game - how significant to win and send message?
We need to win the game because we lost the last two, because we are playing a team going up (in form) and they are playing with a style and if we can win against them taking their style into account it would be very good for us.
Liam Cooper
I went to see the game on Monday versus Hull City. He played an hour. He is in good condition to come back to the team. He has a very good first pass, he is good with the aerial balls, he is our captain and he deserves to be our captain.
When he’s inside the team he makes the team stronger.
Will Cooper help with set-pieces?
Yes. When these players play, Ayling, Berardi, Phillips, Cooper, Jansson, we have great headers. When you don’t have them it affects the team.
Different Derby game to August?
Derby’s not the same team anymore. They are a lot better now as a team. I don’t think it’s going to be the same game. We have the conditions to try to win against this. We can’t rely on the fact we played against them five months ago. It will not be similar. Both teams are very different.
How are the rested players
Klich needed to rest to get some rest. He played all the games with us and his national team, Pablo had the injury that he still has now, Jansson had a small problem that is now over, Cooper came back after many several week's absences. And Roofe also had a small problem that is now also over. It was good also for him to get some rest.
How will you replace Pablo if he is out?
Roberts will play if Pablo doesn't play. He had three chances to score (against QPR) so this is very good for a no 10. Then in the build up of the offensive play he didn't have the same impact, he was influential because he participated in three important chances to score but he didn't build the offensive play that could help the team. Pablo builds the attacks and Tyler is more focused on finishing the attacks and with Klich he can adapt to any player that plays with him.
Barry Douglas latest
Between two and three weeks but I can't give you a final answer to that.
Would this be the most satisfying win if you can get it?
The problems that the teams has are not an excuse to try not to win the game. If you have a look, Douglas and Pablo are missing and we can find a solution for both positions.