What was your reaction to the defeat?
We are very disappointed for the result. It’s the first analysis we have to do. After in 90 minutes we did different situations with the players tactically, with spirit.
The team showed good character, it’s one step ahead we’ll want to do. The result was really not for us to be happy today.
But we can be optimistic for other situations we saw today.
How frustrating were the mistakes before the break and after?
For example the first half we were very deep defensively because they use their two wingers to earn metres and give the ball closer to our box. We were thinking it could be the possibility in the match of playing with Pepe and Auba.
Our moment was the transition and they are two very strong players to do that. We took two or three chances to score also. It's two different moments when they were pushing in our boxes with the crosses. We defended deep but also took the transition.
It's not all we wanted to do in the match, we wanted to keep the ball and possession but their pressing was very strong, we didn't break it with the ball all we wanted. But in the match we were with the possibility to show our moment, to score. The result can be closer to us.
The second half the key was the penalty. I think it was very soft. Usually it's not enough, that holding. But it was decided like that and we continued in our way. We opened more and they gave us more space to keep the ball and possession to attack them. In the transition they are a very strong team and scored the third goal.
It was the moment we needed to show something different, not frustration, not going down and keep our moment, working to progress. We showed character. The impact with Lucas Torreira, Lacazette and Mkhitaryan was good. Some players today made a step ahead, like Willock. It was a good match for Pepe and from Matteo. Ceballos struggled more than last week but it's one experience more for him.
We need to be optimistic but also confirm each training session, each match how we can be. We reduced the distance to Liverpool in 90 minutes compared to last year but at the moment it's not enough. In some issues we can be positive.
How do you keep the players mentally focused in frustrating moments?
We showed character when we were losing 3-0, not going down. We scored one goal but we were looking to take chances to score. The first half the same, we did more than transition. In the transition we can take chances like we made. In the second half the match changed, we didn't win a corner offensively in the first half.
In the second we took four or five. It was when the match can change. The result was good for them, they gave us space to do more possession and be closer to their boxes.
In our step ahead like we wanted to do, today we showed something.
Could Nacho Monreal leave?
He played a very big match and he is a very big professional for us. It is one issue, we need to speak in the next days because in Europe the transfer window has not closed.
But we are going to speak about all these situations. It’s the reason I was saying it’s not normal we closed our window a few weeks ago, because the squad is not completely closed for us at the moment.
It depends a little in the next days how we can decide it.
He might leave then
With Nacho the possibility is open. We are going to speak about that.
Is Mesut Ozil still injured?
Today they are here the players we think were the best physically and also to play today.
