What's the latest on the injuries?
We're gonna have a meeting this afternoon. We have done a training session. We monitored and kept some players away from certain activities. After that meeting I will decide which ones are fit and available and who will start.
Gabriel has been on social media saying 'see you Wednesday'...
They all want to play.
You can't read too much into it…
No.
You have United again in the FA Cup…
That's the thing with draws - you can get anybody. We're gonna be at home again, it will be a big match. It's a little bit the story of the last few seasons that we play big opponents in the third or fourth round. If you want to do what we've done historically at this club you have to beat the big teams to win it at the end.
Any ball warming going on with the others getting easy draws…
It's what it is.
What do you expect from Amorim?
You can see his fingerprints in what he wants to do straight away. He's been very clear with what he wants to do. What he did with Sporting was remarkable after so many years. Especially the way he did it and the way his teams are playing. It brings energy to a new club and the players which is always positive. But we have to focus on what we're doing.
Revenge for the Europa League?
Not revenge. In football it's about another opportunity. Whether you have beaten them or lost against any opponent it's another game. We learned that. We played Sporting a few days ago and it was different from a few years ago. That has no meaning.
You had a blip in December last year. Do you think you've got that out the way early this year?
We hope that we have. The schedule and certain circumstances we had we had to adapt to that. We still competed well but we didn’t get the results that we wanted. We’re in a good run and we have good momentum and we want to keep that going tomorrow night.
What do you make of Jorginho saying Saka could win the Ballon d’Or
They train with him every day. They are in the dressing room with them. For a player to have these kind of words about a teammate is really positive. It shows you how much they believe in him and the potential.
Have you heard his new nickname? It’s Pasudo…
I heard that a few times. B's got a few to be fair.
What has led to the turnaround recently?
That everybody feels important. We've been in this situation since the start of the season. We always talk about everyone feeling important in the squad and the quality that we have within that. We will have to continue to adapt to that because there’' games every three days until March. If the team plays in the way it's been playing and we win games in the way we've been winning games it's always positive.
Can you remember a player come back so sharp like Odegaard?
I will have to think about it. It doesn't surprise me because of the way he looks after himself. The way he was talking, the way he looked two weeks before, the way he joined the team he was really sharp. Then the team has a huge confidence and trust in him. That has a huge impact on him.
What are your lessons from taking over a club in your late 30s like Amorim?
How unpredictable this job is. I jumped into a new job in the middle of the season in very special circumstances socially. Then we got hit by COVID. You can plan whatever you want but football brings different things and you have to deal with it. Take it as it comes and deal with it.
It'll be 500 games at the Emirates Stadium against United. What are your best memories?
The first one probably my debut against Swansea and just realising how beautiful it is to play for this football club in that stadium. As well a bit the transformation in atmosphere. And how incredible we all feel about playing in front of our crowd and the energy that they provide which is something that I feel is incredible.
How different does it feel from when you played
It feels different because you are not on the pitch. You are on the sidelines. Everybody talks about how they haven't experienced this kind of atmosphere and it makes a huge difference. Tomorrow that's what we're going to need, that hyper energy, everybody on it playing every single ball with us. We’re going to need that.
Only Salah being involved in more PL goals than Saka, noticed a shift this season in his output?
Yeah, in terms of the numbers, but we always see a shift in Bukayo every single year. He is providing something else. He is adding things to his game, he is more and more consistent and, as you mention now, obviously his numbers in terms of impact in goals and assists is incredible at this stage of the season. He can only improve, he can only get better. He has got the right players around him to continue to do so and especially because he wants more.
He spoke about idolising Cristiano Ronaldo, should look to try and reach his numbers?
To look is always good! And probably, the way Cristiano started his career and when he joined Manchester United, nobody probably expected in the first few seasons [he would] be able to do that. But again, it was about his mentality, his work ethic, how he developed his skill, his chemistry with his team and to play in a team that has the capacity as well to be dominant. That is very, very important. I think B has got that context and if he is aiming for that, I think it is a positive thing.
Jorginho has stepped in and looked up to speed immediately…
That's his quality, I think. I always mention that his biggest quality is the capacity that he has to make others better. Last season it was the same - at the start there are less games, you don’t play that many midweeks - and he had less time to play. I always told him, 'be ready, because the time is going to come that we need you', and there's not going to be any [notice. In one week you're going play, it's going to be, 'you have to play now', or 'you have to play tomorrow'. And the way he prepares is top, so when he needs to play he's always ready.
Is he like an extra coach…
That was my feeling when he was already at Napoli, the first time I scouted him - to say, 'there is a coach here, for sure.' He's got that will, he's been doing the courses now for a period of time with other players as well, and I'm sure he will prepare and he will be very good.
Is the Emirates Stadium more hostile?
Yes, in certain moments. There are still a lot of thing we can do. And we can still improve. And we can do that as a team, too, to promote that and how we connect. There are a lot of things and we are discussing that. The criteria is changing, the age of people attending the Emirates is changing and we have to evolve to that to get the best possible atmosphere and experience for our supporters.
What is the club doing?
It is not really my job to talk about these things. I need a great team behind me for that.
Expanding the stadium…
That is a club vision and a strategy and the moment we are ready to do that the club will announce it.
Jover, what is he like as a guy?
He is a very special person and someone very close to me. I go to war with him at City when I thought there was big room for improvement in that department and I contacted him and I suggested to Pep that he help us and since then we have been extremely close.
We share a very clear vision as to how we want to put everything together, and everything is connected and aligned and can work efficiently in our team and there are a lot of people at the club that puts a big effort, and thoughts and hours into that, but for sure he is someone that is very important to the team.
Do you have separate time allotted for set piece work?
I don't believe in that… It is all connected. We work in a way that is very close to the game.
Does that empower players?
There is the defensive part as well and when you have to defend set pieces sometimes it is too late - what happened before that to put yourself in that position? Or how can you be in a better position to do that so that is always something we are discussing.
United - could they have a title push?
I don't know. We are still very early in the season and any team that has got the capacity to put five or six wins in a row is going to be up there because it is so tough and you see very week how the teams are struggling to maintain winning, winning and winning so I think anything I possible.
City…
It is a team that has the capacity to turn this around and win, win, win and win, so don't rule them out because you know how much quality and the coach that they have.
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