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Following Mikel Arteta's pre -Leeds United press
conference, I'm going to read a transcript of
his press conference and I'm going to give my
opinion of what I deduce from the transcript.
Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the press ahead
of our first home match of the season against
Leeds United. The boss answered questions on
Kai Havertz, Saturday's opponents and much more
at the Soba Realty Training Centre. Find out
everything that went down by pressing play on
the video above or read our full transcript below.
On Kai Havertz's injury. He's certainly not fit
for this match. Unfortunately, he has picked
up an injury. We don't really know yet the extent
of it. I think we need a bit more time and some
more tests. And after that, we will have more
clarity about the next steps. All right, cool.
Well, let's have it right. Kai Havertz is going
to be out for the foreseeable future. Similarly
to Gabriel Jesus' long -term injury, which I
still... Don't know how long he's officially
supposed to be out for, but when he did get injured,
it was apparent that he would be out over six
months, probably nine months and possibly longer
than that. He got injured in around January,
right? So similarly to that, this Kai Havertz
injury doesn't seem as... As you know, as what's
the word I'm looking for? I'm bad with words,
right? Doesn't seem as long term as Gabriel Jesus,
but obviously it seems like a semi long term
one. I'm going to presume probably two, three,
four months, something around that time frame.
So we will see. But obviously, Mikel doesn't
really want to give too much away and I don't
blame him. On if it's a flare -up of a knee injury,
I prefer not to talk about the specifics, but
if he's not fit, as I said, we need to explore
that issue a little bit further and decide what
we're going to do. So yeah, once again, as I've
already said, obviously Kai Havertz, it's clear
he's going to miss the next few games, going
to be out for the foreseeable future. Obviously,
he's looking for a doctor's prognosis and yeah,
there's not really much to add to that. on what
kind of scenario it could be I don't know the
worst scenario is that he cannot play tomorrow
I would love to have him fresh and available
bringing what he brings to the team but unfortunately
that is not going to be possible well I guess
it's clear he won't play tomorrow and I think
it's also clear he won't play against Liverpool
then we have the international break one thing
it does do though is make his decision to start
up front Pretty, pretty self -explanatory. Pretty
straightforward. It's going to be Victor Yocarez.
But yeah, it would have been interesting to see
if Kai Havertz started tomorrow. I doubt it.
I think he would have went for Victor Yocarez.
But yeah, Victor is likely to play longer than
an hour, I would say, like he did on Sunday.
And I'm going to stick my neck out and say, I
reckon he probably played a full 90. Although,
you could... You could do a few things. You could
put Mikel Marino up there. You could put Martinelli
up there. There's a few options there, but it'll
be nice to see Victor finish the game tomorrow.
On how Kai is handling it mentally. Mentally,
he's in a good place because he's a really strong
boy, very committed. He had an incredible recovery
from a hamstring injury. I think he'd never had
an injury before. It was the first experience.
Now, he's got a setback. Let's see how bad it
is. But I'm sure he's going to deal with it in
the best possible way. And as I said, he's a
joy of a kid. And hopefully, we're going to have
him soon. Well, that's the thing though. Not
something until you are. So, obviously, Kai Havertz
is around 26 years old, if not 26, I'm pretty
sure he is. But, yeah, it's one thing not being
injured, but it's like waiting for a bus. You
wait so long for one and two come at once. So,
obviously, Kai has now had two injuries in a
few months. And, obviously, they're not, you
know... they're semi -serious injuries he's obviously
had his hamstring injury and then obviously now
this knee injury so hopefully he can kind of
come back again and hit the ground running um
but yeah man it's it's a shame to have him out
because he he's come back he's got himself stronger
he's been in the gym filled out a little bit
um you know but yeah it's football it's life
isn't it On Ben White and Christian Norgaard's
fitness. Christian won't be in the squad. With
Ben, let's see how he reacts and what we decide.
Christian will be out for another week or so.
So, that's interesting. Ben White literally looked
fit, looked sharp over pre -season. He's been
playing well. He's giving us width on the right
side. And obviously, Jurian Timber, which we'll
get to. Seems to have run out of steam a little
bit after having a phenomenal season last season.
Playing almost every single game, every minute.
But he kind of broke down towards the end. So
that is why signings like Crispy and Mosquera
were made. Because Ben White, Timber... You know,
one or both of them. Fitness issues over the
last year or 18 months. So, obviously, Christian
Mosquera is a young, budding player with a lot
of energy, strength. He's a powerhouse. So, if
one or both of those right -backs are a doubt
tomorrow, then, yeah, rest assured, Christian
Mosquera is willing and willing to go. His namesake,
Christian Norgard, it's a shame that he's missed
our first two games of the season. Obviously,
he's missed the Manchester United game last Sunday.
And obviously, the managers just confirmed him
out for tomorrow's game, which is a shame because
in pre -season, he looked pretty good. And there
was a few people tipping him to start that United
game. But yeah, hopefully Norgard can come back.
Come back stronger, if not for the Liverpool
game, then after the international break. And,
yeah, fight for his place in the side. On links
to Eberechi Eze, there's nothing to comment on.
I can never talk about anything that's not part
of our group or club yet. Well, as we know with
Mikel, he never gives anything away. But I think
it's pretty, pretty obvious that he is joining
the club. Obviously, he, I think... There's so
many telling signs, but the most telling sign
of all was the fact that he missed Palace's 1
-0 victory against Friedrichstadt yesterday at
Selhurst Park. He was in the ground, but he didn't
feature. He was actually supposed to, but obviously
the club pulled him up because of his impending
transfer to Arsenal. Pretty much done. He's allegedly
taking his medical today. Probably taking it
at the time of recording. And it's just a matter
of time before he's unveiled as an Arsenal player.
On how important it is to get the sense a player
wants to be at Arsenal. That's number one. That
they want to be with us. That they feel something
special coming to us. then the person, what personality
we're going to bring, and then the rest comes.
I think we've done that very, very well in the
last few years to create a group of players and
the spirit in the team. So, yeah, I mean, I think
a lot to do with that is a lot of these players
actually support Arsenal. I can reel off a few
that are just Arsenal fans, a lot of the young
boys especially. So players like Bukayo, Ethan,
Myles are Arsenal fans. Gabriel, Saliba. Well,
Saliba's supposed to be an Arsenal fan, but players
like Gabriel and Declan Rice and David Raya,
you can see that they love the club. They fight
for the badge. You know, there's a lot. Martinelli,
the same way, is almost like a kind of adopted
youth player. So these guys love the club. Arsenal's
a family club, you know. And yeah, we make players
feel welcome. A lot of the ex -players that have
left the club always come back. And mind you,
players like Bakari Sanya are in and around the
club. Players like Nasri have come back to the
club. So, you know, once a Guna, always a Guna,
as they say. And if it's better if they grew
up supporting Arsenal, well, I touched on that
a little bit. The better the feeling, the stronger
the feeling. I think the better always because
it brings a different edge, a different will
and emotion to what you do. I think that always
brings something extra. So the fact that Abareche
Eze not only supports Arsenal, not only was and
probably still is a huge Arsenal fan. He played
for the club as a youngster, so that feeling
of unfinished business, that feeling of, right,
I've fought so hard, I've showed my grit, determination,
resilience to have setbacks. And just come and
just give everything. I was there in April, May.
I think it was April when he scored that belter
from a corner against us. Unfortunately, at our
expense. When Palace drew 2 -2, I believe, at
the Emirates. And that was a phenomenal goal.
So this player, I just can't wait to see him
at the carpet, man. Number 10. on if it was always
the plan for Victor Jocarez to play just an hour
on his debut. It depended on how the game developed.
Every game brings different challenges, opportunities.
I think the game was very demanding physically,
became really open for different reasons, and
we decided... that at that moment he needed to
come off and we had Kai on the bench to come
and change the game. Well, I did say off -air
to a few of the Arsenal fans that Victor Jokeres
looks a bit top -heavy and not in an overweight
way, in a muscular way. Sometimes you can have
too much muscle where you lose agility, where
you're a bit... You know, you're a bit sluggish
to turn to Premier League football. Centre -backs
are really fit. They're athletes right now. So
obviously for me, I think Victor Jokeres needs
to lose a little bit of muscle. He obviously
needs to get himself more fit, fitter. He's a
fast boy, strong boy, powerful. But yeah, I think
as time goes on, he will... he will trim down
slightly, get himself slightly more lean. The
more training sessions he has, and I'm sure he'll
dovetail well with his teammates. On if, it was
always the plan for Victor Yocarez to play Justin
Awa on his debut. It depended on how the game
developed. Every game brings different challenges,
opportunities. I think the game was very demanding
physically, became really open for different
reasons, and we decided... At that moment, he
needed to come off. And we had Kai on the bench
to come and change the game. So, well... It was...
A lot of people criticised the performance from
Victor on Sunday. He did put himself about. He
was mostly up against Dilip. Showed he was more
powerful. However... down to the fitness. He
looked slightly off the pace, but like I said,
the more training sessions he gets under his
belt, the more matches, minutes he gets under
his belt. And once he gets that important first
goal, hopefully tomorrow, I'm sure we're going
to see the best of Victor Jokeres, that's for
sure. On if Victor is ready to go again. Yes,
he is. He's very, very enthusiastic. He trained
really well this week. Again, he's had another
week under his belt. He looks in a really good
place. I can attest to that because I was at
one of his training sessions at the Emirates
on Wednesday. And obviously there's a video on
this channel which you see him rifle home a thunderous
effort. And yeah, the boy means business. I think
he's got a shoot on site policy and I like that.
So if he kind of gets half a yard, half a chance,
he will not hesitate to get a shot off. I'm putting
it this way. He didn't have a shot on Sunday,
but he will tomorrow. On Leeds United, very impressed.
I've been watching them, what they did in pre
-season, what they did on Monday, what they did
last year, in the manner they did it. Big compliments
to the way they play, to the coach. I'm sure
they are going to put, A really difficult match
against us tomorrow. Mikel, they're low -blocking
it tomorrow. They're low -blocking it. I mean,
it's all well and good bigging up the opponent,
as every manager does in this day and age. You
always, you know, you always big up your opponent,
say how good they are, how well they've done,
but you never... Obviously, because you don't
want to give the opponents an edge to the game.
You don't want to say something negative to kind
of rile up the opponents and essentially do the
manager's team talk for them. However, tomorrow
is going to be a really stodgy game, I think.
Probably Leeds will be like the kind of Ipswich
of last season where in the Championship they
romped it, came to the Premier League, found
it a bit difficult. But Leeds got some fast players
in the break. They've got some good players and
a few people are tipping them to beat the drop.
As you've seen in my league predictions, I've
got them to go down. I think it's going to be
a tough game, but I think we're going to have
a good result tomorrow. on being creative from
set pieces. That creativity comes from different
angles and in every phase of play, we try to
do that. At Old Trafford, we had many situations
from open play. As well as that, we should have
and could have exploited the situations much
better to be much more efficient in how we finish
actions, especially because then they went the
other way very quickly. In that sense, especially
being the first one, which is really difficult,
we all pay a lot of attention to that. That's
a big resource that we can have and it brings
confidence as well that the team can score goals
from any situation. Yeah, I mean, you can look
at it in many ways. For me, there's always two
sides and two ways looking at every situation.
You can look at it as, yeah, like Mikel said,
that... We can score from any situation. Or there's
the other side where you can look at it as supposedly
we're becoming too reliant on set pieces. And
now that when we are struggling to break sides
down and obviously the other teams, the opponents,
become accustomed to our set piece routine, which
we've obviously changed up. And if that doesn't
work, then... You know what I mean? But yeah,
there's different ways to skin a cat. And obviously,
when you're up against low block, it's a good
tool to have in your armoury. No pun intended.
By the way, the armoury is a really good shop,
even though I usually buy things online from
the Arsenal. Right, on creating a big atmosphere
at Emirates Stadium. It's always very special.
I think everybody is very excited for the first
game. It brings a different energy around the
stadium. I'm sure they missed it. They missed
the team. We have certainly missed our supporters
and that connection. And tomorrow, I'm sure from
the first whistle, I think everybody is going
to be at it and we're going to have a good game.
Yeah, I mean, it's been a while since we've had
a competitive home game at the Emirates. The
last one was against Newcastle in May. So it's
been a good three months. So obviously, yeah,
tickets have been hard to get for this game.
I'll tell you that for free. But yeah, I think
it's going to be a sellout stadium. The fans
will be... You know, the fans will be at it tomorrow.
So under the lights, 5 .30 at the Emirates. It's
going to be a full house. Obviously, we've got
a lot of new players that are in contention for
their home debuts, namely Victor Jokeres and
Martin Zubimendi, who are almost certainly going
to start. I fancy Christian Mosquera to maybe
sneaking out right back because of his athleticism,
which could be pivotal against... A team like
Leeds who have pace on the break with people
like Wilfred Nonto and Daniel James. So I wouldn't
be surprised if he does sneak in at right back.
But I think it's going to be a very good game.
Leeds United have amazing fans. They're going
to bring it to us tomorrow. They're going to
be up for it regardless of the result. And I'm
sure it's going to be a good atmosphere and may
the best team win. On Leeds United, speaking
of them, an incredible club, incredible history
as well. I've been here long enough to understand
the history of that club. As I said, very special.
One big city with just one club, so passionate.
And you know what happens when you go there and
play. It's great to have them back. Wish them
all the best, apart from tomorrow. Yeah, I mean,
Leeds have got this obvious reputation of being...
A big club, a heritage club, a club with a rich
history, especially back in the days in the 70s
and 80s, under people like Don Revy, Brian Clough.
And obviously the early 2000s when they had top
players, such as they had a team, they had Rio
Ferdinand, they had Alan Smith, Alan Smudge Smith,
who went to United, as did Rio. Also Mark Viduka.
Harry Kuehl, of course. They had a lot of top
players, man. They was a heritage club and we
had some real good battles with Leeds just before
they obviously hit financial turmoil. But yeah,
Leeds are a big club, similar to Nottingham Forest
in the way they're looked at, where they're definitely
a Premier League club for sure. So it's good
to have them back. And once again, They've got
one of their best fans for sure. Their fans are
going to bring a really, really good atmosphere
tomorrow. Look forward to that. On Madaweke's
potential impact, any creative player who can
unlock situations from closed situations, creating
that uncertainty, more attention as well in and
around the ball is going to create space in other
places, having more creativity, more weapons,
having the ability to bring different profiles
onto the pitch at different stages in the game,
something that for sure we're going to have this
season. And that's great. So, yeah, Nani Madaweke.
He's come on the last few games, didn't look
comfortable on the left wing. Obviously, it's
pretty obvious his best position is on the right
wing. However, our arguably best player, Bukayo
Saka, resides there, plays there. So it's obviously
going to be difficult for him to get in there.
However, I think the more he trains with his
teammates, the more he kind of gets used to...
running down the touchline and getting crosses
in because I think that's the main reason he's
out on the left wing. He has a good chance of
staking his claim to start there if he can put
in a run of good performances, get some assists
for Victor Yocarez and co. Show a good attitude.
I think he needs to improve defensively for sure.
In a sense, he can learn a thing or two. or two
from Gabriel Martinelli in that respect. However,
I think his directness and his just willingness
to just attack the fullback could stand him in
good stead against his two rivals for that position.
So, yeah. On managing Timba and Jesus. On Jurian,
we have to manage his load. He's been out for
a long time. and he comes from a long -term injury.
We had one long week. We have to manage the load
on that, so we have decided to take a little
bit of training down, especially that day in
the open session. Gabby is doing super well.
I think he looks in a really good place. Obviously,
it's a massive injury, and we need to come from
that in a really strong way, but certainly he's
in the right place and making very strong strides.
It looks like I've made some observations of
Gabriel Jesus and it looks like he's almost certainly
looking to kind of come back into the side sooner
rather than later. I'm sure when he got injured
in January, like most, we probably thought he
was going to miss the vast majority of this season.
We won't see him until 2026. However, from what
I've seen and from what I'm hearing and heard,
I don't think he's got too long to go before
he can kind of, you know, look to kind of start
trying to get himself back into first -team training,
then maybe get on the bench, some minutes on
the pitch, maybe a couple Carabao Cup games.
We're probably talking October, maybe. September's
probably a bit of a push, but... I think one
thing's for sure, I think Gabriel Jesus will
play this year, this calendar year for sure.
As with Drury and Timba, it's a weird one with
Timba. It just seems that he's kind of broke
down slightly and kind of was overplayed last
season, hence the signing of Christian Mosquera.
But then again, don't be surprised if Drew and
Timber starts tomorrow. So it's a weird one.
I think it's just a case of him getting minutes
because we've got two games before the international
break, two vital games, especially the second
one against Liverpool. So we need all our top
players fit, willing and raring to go after the
break, especially. So, yeah. on making our counter
-attacks more effective. A few things. Understanding
the behaviour of the opposition, understanding
what kinds of runs and where we have to start.
The timing of that connection as well, which
is something that in every situation is going
to be different. Understanding certain principles,
where we want to arrive and how we want to do
it. then it's about the execution and being fast
as well in those moments to make that decision
because when your heart rate is 180, to make
that pass is not the same as when you've been
resting after a set piece for one minute. Every
situation is different, but I'm sure we're going
to improve it. The good thing is the intention
of the team has been exceptional. It's now about
making those little margins, those tunes, to
make it more efficient. So, yeah, obviously counterattacks
or transitions, which is the new modern day phrase
for counterattack, is something we haven't been
the greatest at in recent years. I've always
said that we've lacked pace, especially in attacking
areas, to rely on people like Gabriel Martinelli.
Saka is... I wouldn't say he's a speed star.
He's got a bit of pace about him. But it's good
that we've added people like Madaweke and Jokeres
to that front line. So we've obviously got more
of a threat, especially in transition. But yeah,
I think we do need to improve our decision -making
in transition because on Sunday we had some really
good situations which we didn't make the most
of, which reminded me of the Chelsea game at
Stamford Bridge last Friday. November or October,
one of them months. So it's something we do need
to improve the efficiency in our decision making
and our execution. On what it's been like to
work with Andrea Berta this summer. The great
thing is that ownership has always been the same.
They've been super supportive. We had a really
strong board as well. Very well connected. Then
three very different people, very grateful to
the three of them and enjoy working with all
of them. With Andrea, now, again, as I expected,
is someone who is extremely professional and
very thorough, very determined and brings something
different to the table as well. I enjoy working
with him a lot. I mean, the bit where he describes
Andrea Berta as extremely professional, very
thorough, very determined. Almost like he's talking
about himself. Because, I mean, if he was going
to describe Mikel Arteta, it's someone that's
very calculated, thorough, very, what's the word,
meticulous. And, you know, he's very thoughtful.
He's a thinker, you know. But, yeah, the ownership
have really backed him this summer. But then
again, you can... Because a lot of the press,
a lot of the media want to say, oh, Arsenal have
to win the league because they spent X amount
of money. But then so have Liverpool and Manchester
City. So what? Are they allowed to not win it
then? Because Liverpool supposedly have the best
players, have had the best window, supposedly,
allegedly, and have legacy players such as Mohamed
Salah, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk. So who are
we to think we can, you know, knock them off
their perch if these guys are legacy players?
Obviously, we've got five or six in our starting
11 who almost certainly will be legacy players
if they, one, win us big titles and trophies,
and two, realise their potential because they're
in their mid -20s. People like Saliba, Declan
Rice, Bakayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, to name
but a few so but yeah we've been back this summer
we've had an amazing window especially if this
as a transfer does go through and hopefully hopefully
that won't be the end of it on how the team can
evolve this season a few things obviously that
I won't express here with evolution Make sure
that when we're evolving, we are maintaining
the great things that we do and just tweaking
and making things, making the things that can
give us a big value, not spending too much time
on them. And that's what we have done. And we're
going to continue to do. You will see them, that
evolution as well, comes from the individuals.
At the end, it's about the players, putting those
players with their qualities in those positions
as often as possible to express their qualities.
So, I mean, we've definitely changed the way
we've played in the last two, three years. So
obviously in 22, 23, that was the best I've seen
Arsenal in years. And I'm sure a lot of you can
concur. We were just effervescent. We was expressive.
We was attacking. And you might say naive towards
the end of the season. We kind of ran out of
steam and fell apart. And obviously I think that
4 -1 defeat against Manchester City was... It
was a turning point in the way we do things,
the way we play. We changed our style after that
game. And definitely not a coincidence. That's
the last time we've lost to a big six side. The
traditional big six sides, that is. So what do
you want? Do you want to have this? gung -ho
football that you can probably say Liverpool
play, or do you want winning football? Well,
I mean, I guess the answer is somewhere in between.
I think we have shown, especially last season,
there was about three or four games where we
put teams to the sword with excellent, outstanding
attacking football with the door locked. So I
can throw out games like Man City, Real Madrid.
Sporting Lisbon and Crystal Palace, to name but
a few. And obviously the West Ham away game.
But yeah, it's just about finding that happy
medium. And I think Mikel has alluded to that
by saying just tweaking and making the things
that can give us big value. So yeah, on David
Raya's stature as a goalkeeper, David is very
big and he's very brave. You cannot be the tallest.
But you have the will and the courage to go for
these kinds of balls. That's a massive attribute.
He's a super athlete. He's someone very athletic,
very powerful, really dynamic, really agile.
And that's a big advantage because he can time
things really well. And on that action, especially
when there are so many bodies in the box to come
out and do that, it shows his courage and personality
and his capacity to deal with these kind of situations.
Yeah, I mean, David's come on leaps and bounds
in the last 12 months or so. He was exceptional.
I mean, he's kept, he's won the Golden Glove
two seasons in a row. He's behind the best, well,
he's an essential part of the best defence in
the league. Kept a clean sheet last week at Old
Trafford, made some tremendous saves. I think
that game on Sunday was reminiscent of the Aston
Villa game at Villa Park 12 months ago, where
we kind of was under the cosh. He came out, up
trumps, made a few wonder saves against Ollie
Watkins. And yeah, since then, he's just gone
on leaps and bounds. And there's no doubt he's
amongst the top two or three goalkeepers in the
league. I mean, you could argue he's probably
second only bettered by Alisson. But I mean,
I'm sure people like Emiliano Martinez will have
something to say about that. On if we're sending
out a statement with our transfer business, I
think we are showing the ambition that we want
to do. That we are here to win major trophies,
to keep evolving and improving every single year.
That's going to come with demand and those demands
are clear. It's our competitors, what we're doing,
where the league is going. We're going to be
in front, not just chasing or acting or behind.
We just want to be in front of it and every decision
that we make in every area of the club to try
and achieve that. I mean, the club has really
done everything it can to support the manager
this summer, brought in some top, top signings.
And I don't remember a transfer window as good
and exciting as this. I mean, the one a few seasons
ago when we brought in Declan Rice and Julian
Timber was a really good one. But this one, for
the volume and quality of players that we brought
in, I mean, half of the players we brought in
go straight into the... straight into the starting
11. And this is a side that got to the Champions
League semi -finals and have finished second
three seasons on the trot. So, I mean, yeah,
we spent 200 odd million due to increase to about
270 or so. But obviously, it's just about the
quality. And obviously, I think we need to kind
of trim the squad a bit. And I'm sure we're going
to have three or four departures. in the coming
weeks. Players like Albert, Sambi Lokonga, Fabio
Vieira, Rhys Nelson. Yeah, they'll be leaving
the club, I'm sure of that. On if it brings any
pressure, any extra pressure to him. The motivation
for me is how can we be better? How can we continue
to evolve to win more football matches with bigger
margins? How can we bring the people that we
have closer to us more connected? I think the
players that we already have are incredible.
The ones that we have already signed. I think
they are players that are going to connect with
our people and make them proud and excited. Well,
I mean... We have a really strong squad. Some
people are saying we've got the strongest squad
in the league. I mean, certainly defensively
and in goalkeeping, in the goalkeeping positions,
we've got good strength and depth. The midfield
is very strong. I think it lacked, notice I say
lacked, past tense, creativity. That was prior
to Eberechi Eze being brought in, fingers crossed.
But they attack. We just need to kind of get
the right kind of dynamic to the attack, the
right kind of blend. I think it might be a horses
for courses situation where there's three or
four players swapping and changing for the three
positions up top, depending on opposition, strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats. But yeah,
like tomorrow, I think people like Trossard might
have a... place in the lineup injury permitting
that is and speaking of Leandro on Leandro Trossard's
contract situation I prefer not to because it's
not my duty I'm really really happy with Leo
that situation has been resolved in a really
great way and I think he deserves our recognition
we are really happy to have him I mean I assume
that he's confirming that the The Trossard contract
has been signed. However, I haven't seen anything
official come out from the club. So, I mean,
I think it's one of those 99 % situations, but
you just need a club to kind of put it on a website
just so there's no doubt remaining. On if there
will be a few players leaving, it might be speculation.
The good players always have options to go. Leo
was very clear from the beginning. that he wanted
to be here. The club was very clear that they
wanted Leo here. I was very clear that I wanted
him here. At the end, a good outcome. So I think
that's essentially him confirming Leo signed
the contract, but I just don't think the club
have put it out really for whatever reason. Maybe
they're focusing on the Leeds game or maybe they're
just... focusing on kind of getting the Eze media
done. But yes, it's as good as done. But in terms
of the players leaving, I mentioned that earlier
with people like Lukonga, Nelson, Vieira, possibly
Kivior. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a late
20, 30 million bid from maybe an Italian side
or a mid -table side like a Fulham or Palace.
One thing I would say, If Mark Gurhey goes to
Liverpool for the 50 million that's been quoted,
I think they come in for Kivior and offer about
30 to 35 million. And I think the club's going
to accept it, I'll be real. Because I think the
club will think having seven players fight for
four positions is enough. I think they'll believe
that Mosquera can kind of cover two or three
positions there. on if Kai's injury has influenced
our business. It was accurate. I think it was
very clear when I said that it wasn't done. We
were very actively trying to look at the possibilities
that could come. We are not reacting to anything.
We've been very prepared and understand what
we could do. We have decided that this is the
moment to do it. So I think he's essentially
saying that no, Kai Havertz's injury hasn't.
been the reason for kind of speeding up the Eze
deal so the only thing you can take from that
is it's a coincidence that Kai got injured on
Sunday or whatever and we've accelerated the
deal for Eze on Wednesday so Wednesday evening
to be precise on if getting one more win And
if getting one more in will complete the squad.
I don't know because to complete the squad, we
have to see the in and the out. It's still a
long time in the window. So I think essentially
what he's saying is in terms of the balance of
the squad. So we might lose two centre -backs.
Just for instance, we won't lose two centre -backs,
but we might lose two players in a certain position
and we might look a little bit... weak in that
so we might have to now bring in a certain player
um but the like in all likelihood yeah we're
gonna lose people like lokonga like i mentioned
i keep mentioning these players um yeah we'll
lose about three four players um i think any
more than that you might be looking at getting
another replacement in like for instance if we
do lose kivy or we might bring someone in but
i think we're good i think seven Seven defenders
that can fill in four positions, especially of
the quality that we have, is enough. But eight
is fine because it's just two in each position,
right? On if getting one more in will complete
the squad, yep. On Zubimendi playing for both
teams in open training. Oh, I see that. He was
wearing like a neutral coloured bib. It has an
element of that. It has an element of the load.
He missed a couple of training sessions before
Man United with illness. Obviously, the game
took a lot out of him and we wanted to manage
him as well. So yeah, Martin Zubimendi was ill
for the United game, which probably explains
a more understated performance. And he wasn't
the only one, to be fair. But I think our midfield
metronome, Maestro, is going to have a magnificent...
performance tomorrow. Bow!