So, can I ask you about Bournemouth this Friday night? They seem to be the draw specialists at the moment. What you expecting from them on Friday?
“Yeah, I mean, it's a tough game. It's a tough place to go. They're on a really good run of form. So yeah, [a] difficult game, you know, we're obviously going down there. We've had a good run, and the boys are in good shape but yeah, always a difficult game. Always has been and probably always will be. So, we know that, they’re a really good team, well coached, really well coached, and good energy. And so we know we're being for a game down there, Friday."
I know we've asked you a lot about Kobbie Mainoo since you've arrived. I just wonder, since you have been back at the club, what have you made of his actual performances, and what areas do you see, still as a young player, that he can improve on?
“Of course, you can always improve on a lot of things. Just the age he’s at, just for starters, you know, there's so much more to come and develop and then that's just natural. That's not a negative on Kobbie by any stretch, that's just the stage he's at in his career. So, hopefully, he has got a lot of layers to improve and keep developing on that. I think he's done really well. I think, you know, not having a lot of football for a period of time to come in and play a run of games and find your rhythm, I think he did that really quickly and there's a natural kind of a flow really. And I thought he was he was really good again on the weekend and putting in a performance where he did a little bit of everything, really, and controlled the game in spells, defended when he had to defend. Really impressed with him.”
We asked you about Harry Maguire last week and you said you hoped he could get called up for England. With the announcement on Friday, I just wondered about Kobbie and also Luke Shaw. Do you hope they can get themselves back into the England picture? Have you been in touch with Thomas Tuchel?
“No, I haven't been in touch, no. Yeah, listen, for the boys, I'd love to see them picked for this one and obviously picked for the summer. I don't have any influence on that, but certainly, the boys, the way they're playing, I think they've put themselves right in the conversation and right in the picture and given themselves a chance, you know? So, we'll see. I literally don't know any more than you on that one, but the boys, they’re definitely playing well enough to warrant a place, for sure. It's just, it's not my decision. So, we'll have to wait and see."