Thoughts on the performance?
Incredible, unbelievable fantastic performance especially in the first half. We are playing against the best team in Europe at this moment in time, especially offensively. We all know City, from the last years under Pep, have been fantastic offensively but they have their moments when they are in-form and not in-form. We met City at their highest, an in-form team and the first half, for me, is a masterclass in defensive organisation and mentality in the low block, we give one chance away in 45 minutes and that's a goal which is a marginal onside.
We are creating three very chances and opportunities we need to take, so the first half is fantastic. Second half fine, still defending very well. If you look at the latest weeks, 6-3 against Leicester, 7-0 against Leeds and 4-0 against Newcastle - we are giving two half-chances away to Jesus and Phil Foden. Unfortunately, we lacked the cutting edge in the second half either on set-pieces or on transition, and I must say that all the boys today did unbelievably well.
We are playing with Dominic Thompson, his second start in the Premier League, Mads Roerslev who's never played a full season in any league, Shandon Baptiste the same, a lot of players, Mads Bech his second start - lacking six starters. It's not like City, they play Grealish, Sterling, Foden or Mahrez - I don't know the difference actually. So, incredibly proud and I think we fully deserved at least a point.
Have the players taken heart from the performance?
Definitely, I said to them they should be very proud and pleased. We know that we are very good in the low-block and defending, and we need to do that very well. Then, we also want to play even more fantastic entertaining football and when going forward, we try to do that when we are on top of games or against other teams than City, but we try always to be brave and go toe-to-toe as much as possible, so definitely giving me a little bit more confidence in some of the players that haven't played that much - I think everyone did well today.
How difficult is it to keep concentration against a side like that?
That's a very good reminder to me that concentration is so close linked to discipline, not to get impatient and I think the players did fantastic there, unbelievably fantastic. I think that they deserve a lot of praise for that throughout 90 minutes, especially when you're 0-1 down and we want to go a little bit higher but we can't go too much, because we're opening up and they can cut through teams like they've done so many times. I think that's very impressive and that shows you a lot about my players mentality.
What were you speaking to the fourth official about?
I think David [Coote] did a good job as a referee actually. When you play against the best team in Europe this moment in time with the best players, you need these soft fouls to go your way. I don't think they went enough our way, I don't think it was a disaster but come on, give us a little bit!
Kristoffer Ajer was spotted with the first team. Could we see him on Sunday or is it too soon?
The good thing, is that he's training now with the team, full training sessions so that's a big plus for us. Of course, we'd like him to be available for the team as quick as possible. I hope he can be on the bench for Villa, that decision will take place in the next coming days and then hopefully start him in the Port Vale game and see how he is.
