WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.540 Hello and welcome to HYBR1D Powered by chinkseyMEDIA 00:00:04.540 --> 00:00:07.919 Back again for every word from Mikel Arteta's 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:11.500 pre -Everton press conference. I feel like I 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:13.320 haven't done one of these in ages. I mean, the 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:15.300 last two or three of them I've been live, to 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:18.800 be fair. But yeah, we're back. Back in the video 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.660 tabs. Mikel Arteta's pre -Everton press conference. 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:24.480 Arteta was back in front of the media for his 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:27.800 pre -Everton press conference at the Sober Royalty 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:30.820 Training Centre. Earlier on today. He was asked 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:33.039 to share the latest team news. As well as his 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:36.000 thoughts on our first trip. To the Hill Dickinson 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.579 Stadium. And more. Here's everything he had to 00:00:38.579 --> 00:00:40.880 say in the following subjects. On Ben White's 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:44.259 hamstring issue. Yeah he's out. He's evolving 00:00:44.259 --> 00:00:47.880 well. It's not a major injury. But it will keep 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:49.840 him out for a few games I think. I don't think 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:52.140 it's going to be a major injury. And Ben is a 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:54.299 really fast healer as well. So there's hope. 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:56.280 That we're going to have him in the next few 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:59.549 games. Ooh, that's very subjective, isn't it? 00:00:59.789 --> 00:01:02.369 Shrouded in mystery. He's going to be out for 00:01:02.369 --> 00:01:07.310 a bit. Next few games. For a few weeks. A few 00:01:07.310 --> 00:01:09.629 days. What does that even mean? That's subjective. 00:01:09.790 --> 00:01:11.609 It could mean... I'm going to assume it means 00:01:11.609 --> 00:01:13.269 the rest of the year. He's missing the next three 00:01:13.269 --> 00:01:15.590 or four games for sure. Quote me on that. Actually, 00:01:15.629 --> 00:01:18.209 quote me on that. But, yeah, Ben White is unfortunate 00:01:18.209 --> 00:01:21.689 because he was kind of getting into... getting 00:01:21.689 --> 00:01:24.689 into his rhythm, getting his match fitness. Obviously, 00:01:24.730 --> 00:01:28.090 because of his form, the manager shifted Julian 00:01:28.090 --> 00:01:31.650 Timber around, you know, be centre -back, left 00:01:31.650 --> 00:01:34.790 -back, making way for Ben White to play right 00:01:34.790 --> 00:01:38.909 -back to re -enact his partnership with Bukayo 00:01:38.909 --> 00:01:41.329 Saka. And, yeah, he's been playing well, so I'm 00:01:41.329 --> 00:01:43.189 fortunate, but it's one of those things in football 00:01:43.189 --> 00:01:45.290 when you think you're on top of the world, well, 00:01:45.409 --> 00:01:46.870 it's a bit like life, isn't it? When you think 00:01:46.870 --> 00:01:50.569 you're on top of the world, boom. A little calm 00:01:50.569 --> 00:01:52.510 down. But I'm sure he'll come back stronger anyway. 00:01:52.689 --> 00:01:54.670 What if Gabriel is targeting the Aston Villa 00:01:54.670 --> 00:01:58.230 match as his return? He's pushing hard. Jesus! 00:01:58.890 --> 00:02:02.069 As he always does every time he's out. And he's 00:02:02.069 --> 00:02:05.090 evolving really well. He's doing pitch sessions, 00:02:05.150 --> 00:02:09.229 so he's not too far. We have to see in the next 00:02:09.229 --> 00:02:12.430 stages of that rehab how he progresses. But we 00:02:12.430 --> 00:02:15.050 are quite positive about it. Yeah, I mean, Gabriel, 00:02:15.250 --> 00:02:17.810 I'm sure I'm just getting a vibe that he will 00:02:17.810 --> 00:02:21.719 be back. This year, towards the latter end of 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:23.699 the year, the latter few games, so that obviously 00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:28.560 would leave us between the Aston Villa game, 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:31.599 the Brighton game, in a couple of weeks' time. 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:35.460 Or you can call it days if you want. Or you never 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:37.979 know, he might even appear in Crystal Palace 00:02:37.979 --> 00:02:40.599 squad. That would not surprise me at all. I don't 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:42.979 think he'll start that, but he might squeeze 00:02:42.979 --> 00:02:45.629 his way onto the bench. Well, we'll find out 00:02:45.629 --> 00:02:48.069 next Wednesday. On Martin Zubimendi not appearing 00:02:48.069 --> 00:02:51.050 in open training recently, there was a lot of 00:02:51.050 --> 00:02:53.210 management for a few players who played a lot 00:02:53.210 --> 00:02:55.710 of minutes later. So that's probably the reason 00:02:55.710 --> 00:02:59.090 why. Is it the reason why or is it probably the 00:02:59.090 --> 00:03:02.090 reason why? Because if you remove the word probably, 00:03:02.310 --> 00:03:05.069 then there's no probability about it. It's certainty. 00:03:06.449 --> 00:03:10.120 On six years as our manager. It's gone fast. 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:12.759 A lot happened, but it's been an incredible journey 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:15.539 and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Well, let's 00:03:15.539 --> 00:03:17.560 hope at the end of the season we've got something 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:21.099 tangible to show for it. On our first visit to 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:23.879 the Hill Dickinson Stadium, it's strange but 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:26.719 very exciting as well. I think obviously one 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:29.099 of the most iconic stadiums in the Premier League 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:32.419 is no longer... part of our schedule. But we're 00:03:32.419 --> 00:03:34.560 going to have the opportunity to win as well. 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:37.120 The opportunity to win at an incredible stadium 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.319 that they have built. And Saturday night, you 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:42.740 know what you expect. Well, Saturday night, we're 00:03:42.740 --> 00:03:45.300 going to be in second position. Saturday night, 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:48.039 Manchester City would have overtaken and usurped 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:50.680 us into top spot. Saturday night, we have an 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:55.039 opportunity to regain top spot after dropping 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:56.960 to second for the first time in a few months. 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:00.500 We're going to go into that game under severe 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:02.900 pressure with Man City probably racking in a 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:05.000 few goals at the same time as winning. It will 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.800 be a tough game for us. We know what to expect 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:10.199 when we encounter Everton. Every time it's going 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:12.719 to be a tough physical game. It's going to be 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:15.300 a real gruelling encounter and it's going to 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:17.699 test our wits and show how much we really want 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:20.620 this. We didn't beat them last season, two consecutive 00:04:20.620 --> 00:04:24.470 draws, 0 -0, 1 -1 respectively. And if we're 00:04:24.470 --> 00:04:27.449 not careful, we may even lose the game if we're 00:04:27.449 --> 00:04:30.610 not on point. But I'm expecting us to improve 00:04:30.610 --> 00:04:33.529 on recent performances, especially the performance 00:04:33.529 --> 00:04:36.389 we put out against Wolves last Saturday. Unacceptable. 00:04:36.389 --> 00:04:39.230 But we know that we can't replicate that performance 00:04:39.230 --> 00:04:41.610 if we expect to get three points. On challenges 00:04:41.610 --> 00:04:44.990 we faced at Goodison Park, all the away games 00:04:44.990 --> 00:04:47.449 are always like this. It was a really tough place 00:04:47.449 --> 00:04:50.189 to go. We all know that. And we're going to have 00:04:50.189 --> 00:04:53.829 to be our best to win on Saturday. Well, I personally 00:04:53.829 --> 00:04:56.269 feel even if we're not at our best, we can still 00:04:56.269 --> 00:04:59.110 win. But if we are at our best, we will win. 00:04:59.649 --> 00:05:02.290 That's the way I see it. On wanting to make their 00:05:02.290 --> 00:05:04.949 new stadium a place we can go and win. Yeah, 00:05:04.970 --> 00:05:07.870 and we had in the last few years very good records 00:05:07.870 --> 00:05:10.189 away from home. And those are the places that 00:05:10.189 --> 00:05:12.290 you have to go and win the game. In order to 00:05:12.290 --> 00:05:13.870 achieve that, we're going to have to be really 00:05:13.870 --> 00:05:16.939 good. Well, we're going to have to be good. We're 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:18.600 going to have to be better than we was last Saturday, 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:20.519 like I already said, against Wolves. We didn't 00:05:20.519 --> 00:05:22.500 really play well against Aston Villa. Didn't 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:24.779 really play well against Chelsea. Didn't really 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:28.560 play well against Wolves. And most of those games 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.779 were away from home, but the Wolves one was really, 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:33.720 really, really shocking. We got away with one 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:36.000 there. I'll give the players a blithe for that 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:37.660 one because it was a one -off, but hopefully 00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:40.480 they can put on a show for us tomorrow and win 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:42.819 the game. On what he enjoys the most about the 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:45.759 festive season in the Premier League. That is 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.180 different. It hits you with big demands and a 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:51.759 lot of games and a lot of things happen in not 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.259 only your professional life, but in your personal 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:56.279 life as well, because there are special days 00:05:56.279 --> 00:05:58.980 for all of us. But I see it as an opportunity. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:01.459 I think we are blessed to have the opportunity 00:06:01.459 --> 00:06:04.240 to play when people are on holiday and can enjoy 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.220 it. A lot of families. I think the atmosphere 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:10.199 that is created in stadium is unique and that's 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:12.959 what we have to enjoy. In the festive season, 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:15.480 there's a lot of games. Games come thick and 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.160 fast. Obviously, Man City played a couple of 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:22.220 days ago. We play next week against Crystal Palace 00:06:22.220 --> 00:06:25.959 while they have time to rest and recover. However, 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:28.579 we've used our time to rest and recover. Hopefully, 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:32.160 we can get two or three players back ready for 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:35.319 this gruelling period where a lot of points will 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:39.399 be won and lost. The table will start to take 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:42.170 shape. We will know whether we've reached the 00:06:42.170 --> 00:06:45.550 semi -finals of the Carabao Cup or not, with 00:06:45.550 --> 00:06:49.009 Chelsea awaiting us. So, I mean, it's all to 00:06:49.009 --> 00:06:51.930 play for, really. This is why you play football. 00:06:52.050 --> 00:06:55.230 This is why you go into top -level competition, 00:06:55.370 --> 00:07:00.509 is to be competing for top honours, to be competing 00:07:00.509 --> 00:07:02.990 with the likes of Manchester City, with the likes 00:07:02.990 --> 00:07:07.170 of Chelsea, Aston Villa, you know, Liverpool. 00:07:08.589 --> 00:07:11.790 At the end of the day, the boys just need to 00:07:11.790 --> 00:07:13.629 regain probably a second wind. I think we've 00:07:13.629 --> 00:07:16.769 had a little opportunity to kind of reflect on 00:07:16.769 --> 00:07:19.029 what we've done up to this point, to understand 00:07:19.029 --> 00:07:21.689 that we're going to go into this game in second 00:07:21.689 --> 00:07:24.629 position, but not to panic because there'll be 00:07:24.629 --> 00:07:26.509 a lot of twists and turns between now and the 00:07:26.509 --> 00:07:28.870 end of the season. I would say in a couple of 00:07:28.870 --> 00:07:30.430 games' time, we would have reached the halfway 00:07:30.430 --> 00:07:33.889 point. So what we want to do is just maintain 00:07:33.889 --> 00:07:36.670 consistency and crank it up a level now as we 00:07:36.670 --> 00:07:40.459 go into... On managing Zubin Mendy's workload 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:44.980 in his first season without a winter break. In 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:47.100 the small windows that we have, we make sure 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:49.620 that we look after him and he understands that 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:51.740 every possibility and every chance you have to 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:54.279 look after yourself, you have to take it in this 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:56.600 league because the demands are going to be really, 00:07:56.660 --> 00:07:58.899 really high. But I think he's coping really, 00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:01.220 really well with the league, with all the colleagues 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:04.680 that the league brings you. A new club, a new 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:07.899 country, and I think he's been exceptional. Yeah, 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:10.139 he's been fantastic. I mean, I was actually surprised 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:13.379 that he didn't get rested for the game in Champions 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:18.240 League against Club Ruga. I'm surprised he didn't 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:22.480 get a rest in that one. However, he played. That's 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:26.740 fine. But I think the manager now needs to rotate, 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:29.040 give players a rest here and there. I think he 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.819 needs to make use of Wanyeri more. That's the 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:34.419 one criticism I do have of him this season. Otherwise, 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:37.370 other than that, on the whole, I'm... not too 00:08:37.370 --> 00:08:41.509 displeased with what he's done, but I just think 00:08:41.509 --> 00:08:44.990 squad rotation now is going to be key. We're 00:08:44.990 --> 00:08:47.090 famed for having a top squad, so let's make use 00:08:47.090 --> 00:08:49.590 of it. On Everton having to maintain the connection 00:08:49.590 --> 00:08:52.330 with their fans in a new stadium, I imagine that's 00:08:52.330 --> 00:08:54.610 what they've been trying to achieve. It's never 00:08:54.610 --> 00:08:56.789 going to be the same because every stadium has 00:08:56.789 --> 00:08:59.909 its own history, energy and moments, and then 00:08:59.909 --> 00:09:02.149 you have to translate that. We have experienced 00:09:02.149 --> 00:09:04.809 it here at Arsenal as well, so yeah, it takes 00:09:04.809 --> 00:09:08.710 time. Yeah, I mean, Goodison Park was a historic 00:09:08.710 --> 00:09:12.149 ground, close to the pitch. You know, the fans 00:09:12.149 --> 00:09:14.970 were really on top of you. We've had some good 00:09:14.970 --> 00:09:16.809 moments there, some indifferent moments there, 00:09:16.909 --> 00:09:20.529 and some less so good moments there. But on the 00:09:20.529 --> 00:09:22.970 whole, I think we have the best record against 00:09:22.970 --> 00:09:25.929 Everton of all the English sides. And long may 00:09:25.929 --> 00:09:29.289 that continue tomorrow evening. I don't know 00:09:29.289 --> 00:09:31.250 if changing the culture at the club is one of 00:09:31.250 --> 00:09:33.710 Mikel's biggest achievements in the last six 00:09:33.710 --> 00:09:36.740 years. It was one of them. It was the first foundation 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:40.200 that we had to see and I think it was done pretty 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.000 rapidly. Maintaining it is something that is 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:45.600 very, very difficult and you need a lot of good 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:48.059 people and very aligned people to achieve that. 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:50.799 I think we have that in a really strong and solid 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.700 way. But all the things socially, the transformation 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:56.019 has been around the club in terms of the size, 00:09:56.220 --> 00:09:58.759 in terms of revenues, in terms of the squad that 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:01.539 we built, the value of it, the sporting success 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:04.860 that we had. Even though we haven't won any major 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:07.519 trophies yet, I think it's very, very consistent. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.620 So we're in the right place. I mean, when Mikel 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:15.340 came in, the club was in a mire, dire situation. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:21.519 He's changed that, but I'm sure... Like myself, 00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:25.519 like Mikel, like the squad, we were frustrated 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:28.759 and we are frustrated that we haven't won any 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:32.220 major trophies. However, this season, we've stood 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:34.720 ourselves in good stead to be in a position to 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:38.240 change that come the end of the season. But as 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:40.860 we've seen, things can change really quickly. 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:43.559 Things can change dramatically, rapidly. We've 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:47.860 dropped a few points in recent weeks. In recent 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:50.539 games, we haven't really performed at our optimum. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.960 And we've kind of allowed Manchester City to 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:59.740 kind of gain on us almost. But obviously, there's 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.899 a long way to go. You know, Manchester City are 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:05.059 in the midst of a run. One of their famed runs 00:11:05.059 --> 00:11:07.519 where they just rack up wins after wins after 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.960 wins. And you just feel like, oh, where are they 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:12.179 going to drop points? I've got confidence in 00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:15.840 the boys that they can. get back to winning ways, 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:19.460 go back on a run, start performing like we did 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:22.379 in the first few months of the season. And if 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:26.559 we can do that, then I think no team in this 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.600 league can stop us, really. That's what I personally 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.600 believe. But it's easier said than done, isn't 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.740 it? On who our success has been down to... One 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:37.200 man cannot really change anything, especially 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:39.259 when you talk about the size and the history 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:41.799 of this football club. You need a lot of good 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:44.240 people, very committed people around you with 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:47.120 the same vision, the same work ethic, the same 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.779 passion. And I'm very lucky because I had some 00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:52.340 of that. Then at the end, you need a lot of support, 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:54.840 starting from upstairs with everybody that makes 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:57.460 decisions alongside you. But the most important 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:59.740 ones are the players. I think the players have 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:02.740 to buy into what you say. and what you do, and 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:05.259 I feel very lucky because those players, they 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:07.779 give you 100 % in the direction that you want 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:10.820 every single day. I mean, I think the main stakeholders 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:13.120 in the success of a football club is definitely 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:16.120 if you're going to kind of rank players, manager, 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:21.059 and board, or ownership, and fans. For me, I 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:23.320 think I'll place the players top, I'll place 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:26.559 management, stroke manager second. I'll put... 00:12:26.809 --> 00:12:29.570 The fans first and the board fourth. The reason 00:12:29.570 --> 00:12:31.110 why I've done that is because the players are 00:12:31.110 --> 00:12:34.710 the ones that enforce what the manager has set 00:12:34.710 --> 00:12:37.610 out and they score the goals, they keep the clean 00:12:37.610 --> 00:12:40.090 sheets. They're the ones implementing what the 00:12:40.090 --> 00:12:43.610 plan is. I think the fans create the kind of 00:12:43.610 --> 00:12:46.710 setting for the players to best perform at their 00:12:46.710 --> 00:12:48.509 optimum level, for them to have the best chance 00:12:48.509 --> 00:12:51.210 to perform at their optimum level. They support, 00:12:51.429 --> 00:12:53.789 they urge the players, they push them on. especially 00:12:53.789 --> 00:12:56.370 when they're struggling. And also the board come 00:12:56.370 --> 00:12:59.470 in because they obviously fund the manager. They 00:12:59.470 --> 00:13:02.409 provide the funds for the players to be at the 00:13:02.409 --> 00:13:06.149 club. So I think those four are the most important 00:13:06.149 --> 00:13:08.809 stakeholders in the success of a football club. 00:13:09.669 --> 00:13:12.110 But the players definitely are top of that list. 00:13:12.230 --> 00:13:15.529 On his admiration for David Moyes. I think that's 00:13:15.529 --> 00:13:18.350 the word I'd use, gratitude and admiration. I 00:13:18.350 --> 00:13:20.110 think he taught me the love that he's got for 00:13:20.110 --> 00:13:22.509 the game and then the integrity that the game 00:13:22.509 --> 00:13:25.649 requires at any cost. I think he's a remarkable 00:13:25.649 --> 00:13:28.750 man. I think the way he manages the club, the 00:13:28.750 --> 00:13:32.149 people, his players, he's outstanding. And I'm 00:13:32.149 --> 00:13:34.570 very grateful for everything that he did for 00:13:34.570 --> 00:13:37.570 me, for Everton as well, but I think in general 00:13:37.570 --> 00:13:39.950 for English football as well, because he's been 00:13:39.950 --> 00:13:42.950 an example of how to behave in good moments and 00:13:42.950 --> 00:13:46.240 in difficult ones. It doesn't matter when you 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.940 see how people are. And I think David's done 00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:52.519 that. It's something extraordinary. Yeah, so 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:55.120 another loving for Mikel Arteta, obviously playing 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:59.320 against his former manager, Everton. You know, 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:01.500 the club that he kind of made his name, in my 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:04.460 view. Obviously, Arsenal signed him from Everton 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:08.820 back in 2011, if I'm not wrong. He actually started 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:11.700 off playing as a winger for Everton, who they 00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:16.230 signed him from Rangers. And then he moved centrally. 00:14:16.230 --> 00:14:20.169 He moved kind of in centre midfield where he'd 00:14:20.169 --> 00:14:22.929 play alongside people like Tim Cahill, Leon Osman, 00:14:23.250 --> 00:14:26.669 Steven Piena in what was a hard -working, very 00:14:26.669 --> 00:14:29.230 resolute Everton side. None different to what 00:14:29.230 --> 00:14:31.190 we had expected to come up against tomorrow. 00:14:31.809 --> 00:14:34.389 But yeah, David Moyes has done a good job and 00:14:34.389 --> 00:14:36.450 he's back at Everton doing what you'd expect 00:14:36.450 --> 00:14:39.730 with them. Getting them in and around mid -table, 00:14:39.950 --> 00:14:43.230 solidifying their Premier League status and... 00:14:44.110 --> 00:14:47.309 Just no frills football, but effective, efficient 00:14:47.309 --> 00:14:49.870 football. And what he'd like to get for Christmas. 00:14:50.529 --> 00:14:55.190 Win, win, win, win, win. That's it. After the 00:14:55.190 --> 00:14:57.590 rest will come naturally. My mood, my energy 00:14:57.590 --> 00:14:59.750 is going to be much better. So that's what I 00:14:59.750 --> 00:15:04.090 want. That's a lot of dogs. And if he thought 00:15:04.090 --> 00:15:06.830 he'd still be here right now when he took over 00:15:06.830 --> 00:15:09.509 six years ago, how much would I bet you mean? 00:15:09.629 --> 00:15:13.769 I don't know. If I would say, okay. I never coached 00:15:13.769 --> 00:15:16.470 at the highest level. I come to the club that 00:15:16.470 --> 00:15:20.429 is in a difficult stage of history. And the recent 00:15:20.429 --> 00:15:23.490 past of the previous managers, I don't know. 00:15:24.830 --> 00:15:28.029 But you have to take this job day by day. I do 00:15:28.029 --> 00:15:31.870 the same on day one. Do your best. Do what you 00:15:31.870 --> 00:15:34.070 feel. Make sure the people are on board with 00:15:34.070 --> 00:15:37.070 you and what you do. And that's it. And then 00:15:37.070 --> 00:15:39.870 at the end, in my job, it's about winning football 00:15:39.870 --> 00:15:43.029 matches. That's it. Interesting. So he didn't 00:15:43.029 --> 00:15:47.809 really answer it. I don't know. I can only guess 00:15:47.809 --> 00:15:50.789 that you wouldn't really expect to be in a job, 00:15:50.950 --> 00:15:53.970 especially a tough job that he was given like 00:15:53.970 --> 00:15:57.470 that with the circumstances. But then again, 00:15:57.570 --> 00:16:00.509 you can flip it and say he had a plan with the 00:16:00.509 --> 00:16:04.330 phases. So obviously, if he had the plan of the 00:16:04.330 --> 00:16:06.509 phases, he knew that it would take three, four 00:16:06.509 --> 00:16:10.549 years to kind of get the club in a state where 00:16:10.549 --> 00:16:13.860 he can start competing. He's probably thinking 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:17.259 we could have won by now. But I mean, now is 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:20.460 the time to win. So I think he'll be judged come 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:22.600 the end of this season. No excuses whatsoever. 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:26.159 On if Mikel Moreno is still an option to start 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:29.299 up front. He's certainly an option. I think he's 00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:32.139 given us every reason to consider him in a really 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:35.320 serious way. You look at the goals that he scored 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:38.000 and the importance of those goals. I think he 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.440 needs to be right up there. It's an interesting 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:42.960 question, actually. It's a conundrum. I think 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.639 it's the one conundrum that we have tomorrow 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.820 who starts up top with Victor Jokeres struggling, 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.200 toiling in recent weeks. Do you continue and 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.679 persevere with Jokeres just to keep his confidence 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.399 up? Or do you put Marino in today, or should 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:00.500 I say tomorrow, and you bring Jokeres in for 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:04.299 the Carabao Cup semi -final? However, Gabriel 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:07.279 Jesus is now reeling and wearing to go, having 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.769 came on as a substitute. You know, I thought 00:17:10.769 --> 00:17:12.349 he scored the header, but it turned out to be 00:17:12.349 --> 00:17:14.289 an own goal. Still looks like he headed the ball. 00:17:14.829 --> 00:17:21.049 But I think Jesus would be ready for a start 00:17:21.049 --> 00:17:24.069 on Wednesday. Not sure about tomorrow. So it'll 00:17:24.069 --> 00:17:26.690 be an interesting three -way battle between who 00:17:26.690 --> 00:17:29.410 starts up front. Me personally, like I said, 00:17:29.569 --> 00:17:36.200 I think I would like to go with Mourinho. I wouldn't 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:38.900 be surprised if the manager does maintain his 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.460 trust in Djokovic just to keep his confidence 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:45.319 there. So it will be interesting. That's the 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:47.460 one position I'll be looking at once the team 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:53.309 news comes out tomorrow. On if Marino is more 00:17:53.309 --> 00:17:56.210 of a natural fit than Victor Jocaras. I don't 00:17:56.210 --> 00:17:58.569 know if this is the word, but he's a player who 00:17:58.569 --> 00:18:01.329 is on a job with his qualities and in the games 00:18:01.329 --> 00:18:03.869 where we demanded his qualities. Victor brings 00:18:03.869 --> 00:18:06.329 many other different ones, and it's great that 00:18:06.329 --> 00:18:09.769 we can have those. And now Gabi Jesus as well, 00:18:09.789 --> 00:18:12.049 who came in the last two games and made an impact 00:18:12.049 --> 00:18:15.130 in the game. Obviously, Mikel's not going to 00:18:15.130 --> 00:18:20.569 get tricked into backing one over the other in 00:18:20.569 --> 00:18:24.460 terms of... saying Marino is a better fit than 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.839 Jokeres. He's not that stupid to answer it how 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:31.480 the press officer wanted him to. So, you know, 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:33.819 he's got two players, three players vying for 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:36.519 one position. So let's see who he opts for tomorrow. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.180 On how close Kai Havertz is to coming back, he's 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:43.660 progressing really well and quite fast in the 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:46.839 last few weeks. So, yeah, we are really positive 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:49.140 that if everything continues like that in the 00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:52.339 next... Training sessions is going to be with 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:58.819 us soon. Soon. Soon could be February, but I 00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:02.140 think personally soon is January. On conceding 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:05.059 the first goal in each of our last three away 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:08.859 games. It's about consistency. I think we lost 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:12.160 one game in 21 away from home before then. So 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:14.019 that tells you in this league the difficulty 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:17.140 of that. But if you want to continue to do that, 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:20.319 you have to almost hit. You have to hit almost 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:22.980 perfection in a lot of things that you do. We've 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:25.319 lost two games in the last kick of the game. 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:30.180 Two possibilities to win the games as well. But 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:32.380 that's what we have to learn and play better. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.200 Two games in the last kick of the game, what? 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.720 What was the other one then? We lost to Aston 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:42.599 Villa. We didn't lose to Liverpool in the last 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:44.880 kick of the game, so I'm not sure what that's 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:51.019 about. But yeah, I wanted to actually comment 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:54.160 on the fact that Mikel talks about hitting perfection 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:57.740 and just leading in every single metric. The 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.859 thing is though, Manchester City don't do that 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:04.200 necessarily. They just win. They may blow you 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:08.359 out of the water 5 -1, 5 -0, 4 -0, 3 -0 on one 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:10.119 day or they might just win 3 -2 the next day. 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:13.319 They don't necessarily have to dominate every 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:17.099 aspect of the game, more corners. you know, least 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:20.559 shots against, things like that. They just win. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:27.339 So this kind of systematic domination that Arteta 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:32.339 is obsessed with hopefully can pay off because 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:35.279 in recent years we've topped a lot of the metrics, 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:39.559 but not one. Teams like Liverpool, Manchester 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:42.640 City. They just find a way of winning the game. 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:45.359 They don't need to kind of necessarily stop the 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:49.380 opposition of having any shots against them. 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:53.940 They're just winning each game. However, by any 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:55.819 means necessary, whether they're whipping them 00:20:55.819 --> 00:21:00.059 or they're winning 2 -1. So it is a little worry, 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:04.759 but let's see. On how we've used a full week 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:07.039 to train ahead of the Everton game. Sometimes 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.279 it's the level of energy and consistent energy 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.339 that you need throughout a game. To sustain when 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:14.940 you have played so many minutes in their legs. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:17.779 And other things are the small things like we 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:20.619 talked about. Those defensive habits or connections 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:23.539 that you don't build because you don't have time 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:25.940 to do that. This week we had time to work on 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:28.319 them. And hopefully we're going to see an improvement 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:32.539 on Saturday. Hopefully because... That was like 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:35.160 the kind of last clear week that we have for 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:39.299 a long time. Because after tomorrow, the games 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:42.259 are coming thick and fast. Every three, four 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:44.339 days, there's going to be a game in the offing. 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:48.099 Only if atmospheres are lost from old grounds 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:51.000 when clubs move to newer ones. I don't know. 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:54.859 Sometimes when you change the location, maybe 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:57.740 as well. But I don't know. We're going to have 00:21:57.740 --> 00:22:00.200 to go and witness how it looks like on Saturday 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:03.059 night. It's going to be different to the previous 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:05.420 one. You cannot expect to have the same one, 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:07.660 but I think it will bring some good and positive 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:11.000 things as well, I imagine. Yeah, I mean, Mikel's 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:13.900 clever not to kind of answer the question how 00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:16.900 the press officer wanted him to and say moving 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:22.460 grounds will mean that the atmosphere isn't as 00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:26.319 good as... The previous one at Goodison Park, 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:29.500 because that would just rile up the fans so that 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.980 they can prove us wrong. You don't want to give 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:35.460 any added impetus or any added incentives for 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:38.039 Everton to beat us or get something against us 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:40.519 on top of the one that they already have, which 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.700 is the fact that we're top of the league and 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:44.720 everybody wants to beat the team that's top. 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:48.359 On how he decides who should play, which game 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:51.740 up front. So far in December, my headaches have 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:53.819 come with having no options in the front line. 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:56.900 And no options in the back line. That's the headaches. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.539 I haven't had headaches the other way around. 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:02.900 I hope that I do. It won't be headaches. It will 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:05.579 be difficult decisions. But they're going to 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:08.279 make the team better. The headaches are when 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.779 you have to make decisions. That you're making 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:14.480 the team weaker. Or you cannot make decisions 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:16.539 because you're going to expose other players. 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:19.259 Or players that if you give them too much game 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:21.319 time. Probably they're going to get injured as 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:25.970 well. So those are the headaches. Well, I mean, 00:23:26.029 --> 00:23:29.910 the midfield for me is a bit light. I think we 00:23:29.910 --> 00:23:31.970 definitely need a body in midfield next month 00:23:31.970 --> 00:23:34.230 for sure. If we're going to do anything, I think 00:23:34.230 --> 00:23:37.029 we need a central midfielder because I think 00:23:37.029 --> 00:23:41.809 we've only got Marino, who's been used up front, 00:23:41.890 --> 00:23:46.789 mind you, Declan Rice, who's irreplaceable, Zubimendi, 00:23:47.029 --> 00:23:51.309 Christian Norgard, who when we play him in midfield, 00:23:51.349 --> 00:23:55.470 there's a massive drop -off. And then Wanyeri, 00:23:55.589 --> 00:23:57.529 who's not been playing. So obviously, clearly, 00:23:57.670 --> 00:24:00.890 there's a dearth of depth there and that needs 00:24:00.890 --> 00:24:03.230 to be addressed. On if there's a game he had 00:24:03.230 --> 00:24:07.369 in mind for Kai to return in. I do. I don't want 00:24:07.369 --> 00:24:09.930 to say because, again, I think in that last part, 00:24:10.109 --> 00:24:12.950 especially after such a long time, that after 00:24:12.950 --> 00:24:15.609 the rehab, I think we need to be cautious and 00:24:15.609 --> 00:24:18.390 we need to go really firmly with every step that 00:24:18.390 --> 00:24:20.769 we take along the way to make sure that when 00:24:20.769 --> 00:24:23.410 he's back, he's back and he's back for the long 00:24:23.410 --> 00:24:25.720 term. You know what, I think it's the Portsmouth 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:28.640 game in early January in the FA Cup because you 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:31.440 don't want him to come back in an intensive Premier 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:34.920 League game, do you? And also the Carabao Cup, 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:39.039 if we get there, will be against Chelsea and 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:42.039 you don't really want him coming back, making 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:45.839 his comeback from a lengthy injury in such an 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:48.859 emotional game like that for him. How he assesses 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:51.609 Victor's first few months at the club. I think 00:24:51.609 --> 00:24:53.609 the level of attention on him hasn't changed 00:24:53.609 --> 00:24:58.029 since he signed to today. That's normal. Everybody 00:24:58.029 --> 00:25:00.390 was so excited to bring a number nine into the 00:25:00.390 --> 00:25:03.990 club. We did it. We played. We bought a player 00:25:03.990 --> 00:25:07.109 with an incredible scoring record that had to 00:25:07.109 --> 00:25:10.109 adapt to the league. He had no pre -season. The 00:25:10.109 --> 00:25:12.309 first few weeks were difficult because physically 00:25:12.309 --> 00:25:15.130 he wasn't in his best state and he's a player 00:25:15.130 --> 00:25:17.349 that needs that like any other player in this 00:25:17.349 --> 00:25:20.119 league. almost to perform at that level, then 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:23.039 he kicked on. I think he had a really good period 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:26.039 and he got injured and now he's back. But I saw 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:28.119 a lot of positive things in the last two games 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:30.559 that he's done. We need to continue to tweak 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.839 and understand him a little bit better in certain 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:36.059 situations and he needs to do the same. But that's 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:38.460 about time and we have full support for him. 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:41.140 You know, the way he's answered that question 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:43.380 makes me think that he's going to want to start 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:46.660 him tomorrow just to kind of... you know, nurture 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:50.619 him and kind of play him back into form. Because 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:53.599 I think with the fact that he hasn't scored in 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:55.420 such a while and the fact that he's struggling, 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:58.339 dropping him to the bench is going to dent his 00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:00.299 confidence even more. And I think he's a player 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:04.299 that is more likely to perform and affect the 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:07.039 game from a starting position as opposed to from 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:10.210 the bench. on if the scrutiny on him has taken 00:26:10.210 --> 00:26:13.470 him by surprise i don't know at the end you have 00:26:13.470 --> 00:26:16.390 to experience it you can imagine the global impact 00:26:16.390 --> 00:26:18.750 that you're going to have to deal with when you 00:26:18.750 --> 00:26:21.710 come to a big club and the expectations are as 00:26:21.710 --> 00:26:25.269 it is but after you have to live with it but 00:26:25.269 --> 00:26:28.029 after you have to live it and living it is always 00:26:28.029 --> 00:26:30.799 slightly different to your imagination But he's 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:33.480 doing it with a lot of desire. I think his energy 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:36.799 level, his commitment are absolutely top. And 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:41.400 we are here to help him. Because we've all been 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:44.380 here. We all need time. There's always moments. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:48.339 And the strikers have moments. They score more 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:50.819 goals, less goals. And we need to be there for 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:54.460 him. Yeah, I mean, Victor Jocquez is a confident 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:57.000 boy. But I've seen him in recent games. I was 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:59.299 there at the Wolves game. And he did look... 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:02.140 Out of sorts, he did look a little bit off the 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:04.019 board. He was getting brushed aside from defenders, 00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:07.799 which is a worry because you would say his main 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.880 strength should be his strength, power and pace. 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:14.000 And a lot of defenders have been outrunning him. 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:16.799 A lot of defenders have been outmuscling him. 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:19.960 And when he's had opportunities to shoot, he's 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:22.859 passing it. And I'm thinking, I want you to be 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:24.880 single -minded and get shots off, whether it's 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:27.720 from tight angles, get shots off. You can... 00:27:28.769 --> 00:27:32.609 force the keeper into a save which plays it into 00:27:32.609 --> 00:27:34.829 the path of someone like Trossard, Martinelli, 00:27:34.890 --> 00:27:37.349 Saka, you can win corners. But I want you to 00:27:37.349 --> 00:27:39.750 get more shots off. If you don't shoot, you don't 00:27:39.750 --> 00:27:42.769 score. On if we'll see another level from him 00:27:42.769 --> 00:27:46.029 in the second half of the season, I think so, 00:27:46.069 --> 00:27:48.970 yes. Well, you're going to have to. You can't 00:27:48.970 --> 00:27:52.309 have a second half of the season like he's had 00:27:52.309 --> 00:27:56.089 a first. I mean, he's obviously... Yeah, he was 00:27:56.089 --> 00:27:58.069 off the pace a little bit at the start of the 00:27:58.069 --> 00:28:00.950 season, missed pre -season. You know, he's obviously 00:28:00.950 --> 00:28:03.089 lost a bit of weight, done a lot of gym work. 00:28:03.369 --> 00:28:05.809 He got injured when he started to play well. 00:28:06.289 --> 00:28:08.710 But now he's back. Let's hope he can kind of 00:28:08.710 --> 00:28:11.529 get some goals, get some shots off first. Boost 00:28:11.529 --> 00:28:13.609 your confidence. Just take a few shots, get some 00:28:13.609 --> 00:28:17.089 early shots off. You know, play it simple. Keep 00:28:17.089 --> 00:28:19.470 it simple. Lay the ball off to people like Saka. 00:28:20.190 --> 00:28:23.309 Run, turn and spin. Your movement's got to be 00:28:23.309 --> 00:28:26.069 better. You know, your movement has to be better. 00:28:26.430 --> 00:28:29.269 But I do believe he will improve and I do believe 00:28:29.269 --> 00:28:32.210 he's going to be the player that we've signed 00:28:32.210 --> 00:28:34.269 and hope to have signed from Sporting Lisbon 00:28:34.269 --> 00:28:37.589 last season. But he just needs to get back to 00:28:37.589 --> 00:28:37.910 basics.