Press conference and other interviews thread

Idiot journalist owned :cool:

How much of a threat do they represent to you? Obviously, you have that game in hand as far as qualification for fourth is concerned, but you have to make sure everyone is fully ready, you can't take anything for granted at this stage...
"You tell it right! So, I don't have to [say anything], you already reply [with] your own answer!"
 
These bloody journalists ffs

"How important is it to be in the CL"

:rolleyes:
 
Hi Erik, how important is it to get this point to get you over the line and into the Champions League?
''If you make that question, you already have your answer.''

But I meant in terms of the targets that you set yourself at the start of the season, what achievement would that be?
''It's clear and we want to win every game. That is what we have tried to do all season and tomorrow we want to do the same and win the game, play dominant football and get the job done.''

In terms of your squad, and you won’t tell us what you are doing for next season, but people made a connection between Anthony Martial and the fact that the striker position is not sorted at Manchester United. It doesn't seem to have worked this season and also his reaction to going off [against Bournemouth], the lack of goals, the lack of fitness and the feeling that he may be someone you may look to get rid of in the summer. Is that a fair assessment?
''No. If you are not available you cannot score and when he was available, we play better, and this team is winning games. He is also scoring goals, but he has to be available.''

Just a point needed for Champions League qualification. Are you about where you thought you would be at this stage, or are you ahead of schedule to where perhaps the owners set you when you became manager?
''First, we have to win the game tomorrow and get the job done. Then it is about the judgement from others. If it's a good performance or a bad performance or a poor performance, we are in a project and we want to go back and win trophies, [we have] won one trophy and we want to win more trophies and we want to compete with the best. We are still in a journey, but we think we are in the right direction. We can always be better because good is not good enough.''

Erik, can I just ask with Marcus Rashford being out recently with injury and then illness, is he now fully fit and ready to go?
''It looks like [it]. Yesterday he returned in training and he looks quite fit but we have to see today what the outcome is from the training, how did he recover. Then we will make our choices.''

In terms of the project, what is the significance for you in getting into the Champions League, in terms of then making the step forward next season and being able to attract players who wouldn't maybe want to come to a team that aren't in the Champions League. What is the significance of it to you?
''We want to compete with the best and then you have to be in the Champions League. It is simple.''

Is it as simple as that though if you want to get the best players? Obviously you got Casemiro last summer, but if you want to be able to do that this summer, do you need to be a Champions League club to do that?
''We want to compete with the best and then you have to be in the Champions League. In the Premier League you have to qualify yourself to be in the top four and that is not easy because there are many [clubs] competing for it. Many think they should be in and so yeah, we are one of them.''

Erik, there are lots of strong reports from France about Manchester United and in particular, your interest in Neymar. Can you comment on that? What do you think of him as a player?
''When we have news, we will tell you.''
 
Simon Stone is so annoying. ‘Err umm err umm do you want to be in the Champions League erm?’ Also he always had to be reminded to unmute during the COVID days. Sort yourself out man
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
Simon Stone is so annoying. ‘Err umm err umm do you want to be in the Champions League erm?’ Also he always had to be reminded to unmute during the COVID days. Sort yourself out man
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Him and Carl Anker really struggle to spit out the bloody question.
 
Herman Toothrot said:
Him and Carl Anker really struggle to spit out the bloody question.
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Yep. In Carl’s case, it’s because he’s overly verbose I think. Simon Stone always just comes off as though he’s just been woken from a deep slumber. Seems an accomplished, pleasant guy but really needs to work on his verbal communication.
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
Yep. In Carl’s case, it’s because he’s overly verbose I think. Simon Stone always just comes off as though he’s just been woken from a deep slumber. Seems an accomplished, pleasant guy but really needs to work on his verbal communication.
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I think Anker being quite young is still trying to impress using all words and football theory he knows, but he'd be much better off getting to the point.
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
Yep. In Carl’s case, it’s because he’s overly verbose I think. Simon Stone always just comes off as though he’s just been woken from a deep slumber. Seems an accomplished, pleasant guy but really needs to work on his verbal communication.
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Why though? Everyone understands what he’s saying/asking. Guess every journalist have their strengths and weaknesses. Some of them are brilliant writers while some are natural in front of the camera etc.

Don’t think BBC is going to try to replace him with someone because he’s a bit awkward in how he speaks. Nor should they.
 
top1whoisman said:
Why though? Everyone understands what he’s saying/asking. Guess every journalist have their strengths and weaknesses. Some of them are brilliant writers while some are natural in front of the camera etc.

Don’t think BBC is going to try to replace him with someone because he’s a bit awkward in how he speaks. Nor should they.
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I didn't say BBC should replace him. However, he speaks in videos/clips viewed by thousands of people. I've spoken to crowds of a hundred people max and was told I sometimes speak too quickly. Guess what I did? Work on it. His talking style is incredibly grating and it takes him a while to get to the question. Avoiding saying constant 'ums' and 'erms' is a fairly basic personal development point. Not a big deal but if he can (and isn't battling a speech impediment - in which case I take everything back), he should work to improve it.
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
I didn't say BBC should replace him. However, he speaks in videos/clips viewed by thousands of people. I've spoken to crowds of a hundred people max and was told I sometimes speak too quickly. Guess what I did? Work on it. His talking style is incredibly grating and it takes him a while to get to the question. Avoiding saying constant 'ums' and 'erms' is a fairly basic personal development point. Not a big deal but if he can (and isn't battling a speech impediment - in which case I take everything back), he should work to improve it.
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I’d say it’s a very different thing speaking to crowds and asking a question in a presser. He’s not a professional talker. And it’s not like he’s aiming to be in those videos or clips. To each their own though, I don’t care as long as I understand him.
 
peridigm said:
Not a very convincing answer regarding not moving Martial on.
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What did you expect him to say he was non committal either way , while also trying to raise the confidence of the player whom he feels still have part to play this season .

I'll say that's good man management .
 
gajender said:
What did you expect him to say he was non committal either way , while also trying to raise the confidence of the player whom he feels still have part to play this season .

I'll say that's good man management .
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Did not expect him to say he's gone or he's staying. Just commenting on the lack of conviction in his comment. That's all.
 
Erik, this club hasn't been past the quarter-final stage in the Champions League for about 12 years. That's just not right for a club the size of Manchester United, is it?
“It's true, but first you have to be in the Champions League before you can qualify for a semi-final or even more.”

Yeah, but sometimes they haven't even qualified. I mean, 12 years is a long time to get to the latter stages of a tournament like that?
“But it tells a lot about this club, where we are and where I think we are now. We stepped up, but it's still a long way to go.”

Erik, have you spoken to Pep [Guardiola] since he won the title at the weekend?
“No.”

Will you ever offer him your congratulations, or do you not have that much dialogue with him this season?
“I will do. This is the first moment, so I take the opportunity to congratulate them on winning the title. Also, in the way they are winning the title, I think it's a demonstration of football. Everyone likes the way they play. So attractive, so brilliant. I think the season is still not finished, as our season is still not finished.”

With their title win and these charges hanging over them, do you think that it is a tainted title for Manchester City? Because it might not be seen as legitimate by a lot of people?
“Oh, it's not about me to make a judgement. There's an investigation. So let them do their work and we will find out. But it's not about me in this moment or in any moment to discuss that or to make a judgement.”

Erik, you talk about the journey that United are on. Where Chelsea are in the table, does that show you how difficult it is to get the processes right and to get everything right after a takeover?
“Oh, absolutely. At this moment, the Premier League is the centralisation of good players and of the best managers. Also [it’s about] the money. It's all here in the UK. That makes a great competition but a tough and a hard competition and you have to do the right things. You can have money, but you have to spend it in a smart way and also you need the right strategy behind it, because otherwise money doesn't work.”

From what you've seen here in one year, do you feel that the club has been your club and that they have been following the right processes to go forward, regardless of who the owners are?
“Well, I think we are in a good direction, but also I think we also can learn from the season and we have to evaluate it after the season and make the right conclusions for the future. And that's what we will definitely do after the season.”

I think lots of people probably thought that Chelsea would have been challenging for the top four spots this season, given the season that they've had after their own takeover last summer. Do you have any concerns at all because this club is going through something similar, that new owners coming in doesn't necessarily mean a step forward? Chelsea seem to have gone backwards, from the outside?
“I said that in the previous question. I try to answer that, when there is no strategy behind it, or not the right strategy, money doesn't work.”

Mr Ten Hag, this is the final fixture between two top-six clubs. What have you made of the level of competition in these games against Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle, compared to the rest of the Premier League?
“I think there are many more teams in the Premier League who are really strong. I am talking about Aston Villa, talking about Brighton and talking about Brentford now. I think there are many more teams who are really strong and tough and it's not only those top six clubs.”

On that note, now that Newcastle have reached those top six spaces, you’ve just mentioned Aston Villa... do you think that means competition for the Champions League next season will be even harder?
“It could be, but there is a summer in between, a lot of things can happen. In this moment we know there is a balance in the league, but over the summer things can change.”

When are you looking at recruitment for the summer, do you want players who want to join you in your United project, or do you want players who want to play in the Champions League? What's the distinction between the two?
“I want to have players with the right characters and personalities, who are outstanding and who can contribute on the highest levels. That is what we want and that is what we have to work for. But in this moment, we focus on tomorrow and on Chelsea. That's important and the rest is not so important at this moment.”
 
Against Chelsea during the time when Antony was injured, you were in discussion with Jadon Sancho for a little bit. What do you make of his performance against Chelsea and how have you seen his performance across the season?
"I was not in discussion with him, but I gave him some instructions. So, I think I take that spell, because there was an injury, to give him some instructions. I do [this] more often with players [and it] is a short time. You have to take advantage from the short time on the pitch to give the instructions to your team and then it can be some individuals, sometimes it can be also some groups. And that is what I did."

Are you particularly pleased with how Sancho has played this season, especially against Chelsea? You've played him on the right-hand side for a long period of time as well...
"He did very well on the right side, and I think he played a very good game today. And I think Jadon Sancho was one of the players who [has made good] progress in this season. And there were many players in our squad who made good progress. I think it's a good base to build further on."

Do you prefer [Sancho] on the left to the right?
"He can do both, but I think he prefers to play on the left. But we have seen today he is very good on the right as well."

So, Erik, you just previously mentioned twice about the transfer window coming up in the summer. Is it simple to say that now you know that transfer dealings can make or break... Next season really depends on that, because you had a good summer last summer. You are where you are now. If you don't have a successful transfer window, then forget about next season challenging and improving?
"Still, we can improve also with this squad and as we did this season."

You did just mention it depends on how you come out the transfer window...
"I think that is one part of it. The other thing has to come out of the progress in the current squad and the current players and that is the job that I have to do to get into guarantees with that squad and with my coaching staff. I think we make huge progress during the season. The team, many individuals, play a fantastic, great season and now we have a good base. But as I just mentioned, I think there is still a lot of room for improvement also in this squad. But then when you get the right players in, that will help and that will even give you more depth and a better standard and level. And then you have more chance to be in the top four and then it gives you more chance to win titles and trophies."

Erik, David De Gea has been a very important player for this club for a long time. His contract is up in the summer. I know there's been a lot of positive noises about it, but nothing's been signed yet. Is there a chance that Sunday could be his last game at Old Trafford as a United player?
"I think we want him to stay and he wants to stay, so I think we will find each other."

What has been the hold-up?
"I never will give a comment about that, about how negotiations are going."

Can I ask quickly about Luke Shaw? I know you said Antony is a serious injury, but it will require some assessment. What's up with Luke Shaw? Do you think he's out of Sunday's match?
"In this moment? I can't say if he is available or not for Sunday."

You've spoken a lot there about the transfer window and getting stronger for next season, but how difficult is it to plan and prepare for the window when you don't know who is going to be owning the club by the time the window closes?
"That's not my job. I have to nominate first and identify and then nominate the right players. Then it's up to the club."

Are you confident that, no matter who is owning the club, they will deliver the players that you want?
"I cannot tell in this moment. You have to ask the right people about that question."
 
Erik we already we know it's been a great first season. You’ve won the League Cup, got in the top four, and [got to] an FA Cup final and to finish above Liverpool is never a bad thing. What do you have to do to actually take the next step, rather than the next step just being stopping City winning a Treble? What do you have to do and how do you do it?
"We have to look to ourselves and we want to win that cup, but that is for next Sunday. We have to do everything that's in our power. I think in many aspects we can improve with this group of players, with this team and I know where we have to improve."

So you are saying there is a lot of room for improvement?
"Yes. I think there's a lot of room for improvement, yes."

And on a personal level you've been living in Manchester now for a year. How settled do you feel in Manchester? Does it feel like home? You know what the fans are like when they see you out and about. Any negatives? Or is it all or positive whenever people see you?
"It's I think it's never all positive, it's never all negative. But I think when you balance [it] it’s absolutely positive. I feel fantastic in this club. I feel really comfortable. We can work in very good conditions."

So you feel settled in Manchester? Absolutely?
"Yes, absolutely."

Hi, Erik. You said at the very start that this season is a success with what you've achieved because you have made the FA Cup final. Does that make it something of a free hit for you guys given you've achieved, and Manchester City are the favourites, or is it a chance to send a statement going into next season before August?
"When I was here one year ago I said we want to win trophies. Now, we have won one, so we want to go for the highest. But that's going to be a long, long way away. It's going to be a project and they are not done over one year, we're talking over one two or three years. But when you have an opportunity to win a trophy, for every player, that's massive and I have to count, but there are not so many players in our team, in our squad who have won the FA Cup and the FA Cup is huge for everyone in the world. You can have won Champions League, you can have won so many titles, but when you have the opportunity to win the FA Cup [it's important] because the FA Cup I think has, all over the world, a huge reputation. So I know from the Netherlands how big the FA Cup is. So when we have the opportunity to win it and we know [about City], but also we are realistic. It's not going to be easy, but I can assure you one thing, we will give everything that's in our power to get the cup."

Marcus Rashford has scored 30 goals, the first United player to achieve that since the last championship season a decade ago. Do you think there's still room for improvement from Marcus and does what he has achieved this season mean that there's less pressure on you to get a goal scorer, perhaps in the summer?
"The first part I think, yeah. With Marcus, there's a lot of room for improvement in his game and I'm convinced he could score even more. I think when you take for instance the last ten games he didn't score so many goals, I think only two or three. He can improve but I'm happy. Where he was last season and what he did now and that he brings himself back. We supported him where we could, with the way we play but also in his mental mindset. So we are happy with that. But yeah, we have to push for more and I'm sure he's capable to score 40 goals in a season. And to also make, for him, the next step."

Does that perhaps take pressure off you bringing somebody in the summer as a striker?
"We need across the squad more scoring abilities and you can't be dependent on one. But it can also come out of this squad. But we need more scoring abilities."
 
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My next girfriend is a gold medalist at the olimpics. So feck chelsea.
 
KirkDuyt said:
Wijnaldum started out as a winger, but it became clear quite quickly that he wasnt going very far there. He lacked the speed and 1 on 1 to really shine there. You can get away with that in our league, but if I remember correctly he was already in the center of midfield at PSV.

Nemanja Matic was also a left winger in the Eredivisie once upon a time. Seeing him play now, imagining Matic on the wing is even weirder.


As for Mount, I don't watch him enough, but he seems an okay player, but not fantastic. And he looks a bit weak for the Wijnaldum/ Matic role, but I could well be wrong.
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Cheers. I remember Matic was an AM too..

Sassy Colin said:
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What a fecking guy heh.
 
Hi, Erik. In terms of team news, is there any players that will be unavailable that we weren't expecting? And will Antony Dos Santos be fit?
“Unlikely. Dos Santos still has a chance, but it's a really small chance.”

Has there been a setback, because you seemed more positive the other day?
“Yeah. He did make the progress. So what I say is he still has a chance, but either unlikely he is available.”

How much of a blow will that be for you and Anthony Martial, who I know hasn't been available for you all season on a regular basis, but would have been a good option?
“Yeah, but as I said all the time, I have these questions so many times from you all media about absence from players in the last couple of months. And every time I say the same answer. It's about the players who are available. And every time we were successful not every time, but a lot of times, many times we were successful. So we have a good squad and from a good squad we make a good team.”

Erik, will Saturday's game determine your mood in the summer, given the opponent? Given the game, given what's at stake, will that determine whether you have a good summer or bad?
“No, that will not be the case. Always after a couple of days it will settle down and then you move in the summer. But I think we had a good season. But of course we have a great opportunity to make it a very good season.”

Do you need to know what happens in this game to know what the gap is to Manchester City and what you have to do in the summer to get closer?
“Of course, it's a test, but you can’t set that conclusions based on one game. So therefore you need more. So already we make that evaluation and I make my conclusions. But nevertheless, it's a good test on Saturday.”

So what do you say to the fans who are desperate for you to win, to stop City?
“We want to win. We want to win a cup. And it's not about stopping them. It is about that we win, that we win a cup. We have a great opportunity.”

Because of what is at stake this weekend, do you accept that this is the game that since you've come here, means more to the Manchester United fans than perhaps any other?
“Yeah. So that's great that we deserved that opportunity to be in the cup final and then meet Man City, that it's a great opportunity and we fought so hard for it. I think we progressed that well that we are in that FA Cup final.”

And we saw the pain that Sir Alex Ferguson had when he had to present Pep Guardiola with the Manager of the Year trophy. I just wonder from your point of view, talking about this project, how soon do you believe you'll be in a position to perhaps save him from that pain and challenge City and even finish above them in the Premier League?
“Yeah. So I think they do a very good job. They play very good football, so they deserve it. But I don't look at, of course I look at all this because our opponents and I graduated, but we look to ourselves and you have to see where you are as a club. And from there on you have to make progress. And I think we did over the last season. We make very good progress. We are in a good direction and I know we use the coming period as well now we get the opportunity in the summer to make new targets, new goals on the short term, but the longer term, yeah, that will stay the same. As I said last year, we want to restore Man United. But yeah, we have a way to go.”

How excited are you to play the FA Cup final?
“I'm very [excited] and I played many cup finals in the Netherlands as a player and as a coach, and it was always fantastic experiences. And in the Netherlands we have the cup and that is there's a special place to be. But Wembley, I think that is probably the best stadium in the world and to be there in a cup final, It's really exciting.”

Is this the best game in your career?
“Oh, I don't know. I had some more, I would say. So it's definitely a big game, but so I don't want to make an assessment on what is the biggest game, but we have a great opportunity and we have a good opponent, a great opponent, and we looking forward to the test.”

Is this a game that you have to win?
“Every game you have to win. Yeah. If you play football, football is about winning. It's about results. So yeah, every game you play, you have to win.”

In this season, you won the League Cup top four in Premier League. That means Champions League. Are you satisfied with this first season here?
“I think that is very good when you see where we came from and then you see the development of progress of the team and then you are in a tough league as the Premier League. You are third and you are winning the League Cup and you are in the final of the FA Cup. I think then you can be happy with the season. But also I know after summer we start, we start again and we start on zero.”

Is it the last game for Wout Weghorst for United?
“I don't know. You can't say that in this moment. I'm not in this moment into transfer politics. I'm in to win this game and we will do everything. And I think Wout played very good for us, very good contribution to the team result. I think he did what we took him for.”
 
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