Q: James, we saw the reaction from the fans at the end celebration. Could you describe what sort of a place Manchester United and Old Trafford could be for someone who could get wins like that on a regular basis here?
A: I can only describe that moment and how I felt it. As a closure of this block of four games, I felt like it was a closure for that period, and the future is open – that’s the way I felt it. It was a beautiful moment to be able to share that with the supporters.
Q: Rudi, you’ve come in and won three games. The situation has stabilized now. A new manager’s coming in, and we’ve spoken a lot about how he plays with three at the back, with wing backs, inside forwards. Do you think the squad here can easily fit into that kind of transformation?
A: That’s a very good question. What was important for me when I started as an interim at the beginning of this four-game period with my colleagues and staff was to stabilize and continue playing what the players are used to – 80-85% – and put in little tweaks or change of positions, resting players or starting players. That’s where you start to get your own bit of identity, transfer it to the training pitch, get the lads’ confidence back. You can see the quality of play is still not in a consistent way because there’s still a lot to improve, but I think there’s a foundation in the past four games where there was strong unity, good spirit, players who were at it looking for results, and we got four. I’m sorry I don’t go into your question about wing backs and inside forwards – I can’t comment on that.
Q: Congratulations on the win. It was obviously very emotional as you said, special, and you said the future’s open. Did it feel like you wanted to make the most of that in case it is goodbye?
Advertisement
Latest Press Conference
We’re on Social Media
A: No, I felt like closing this period down, if you say it like that. Basically, it was a moment here and now, and that was the beauty of the moment in my opinion. The circumstances came together, and it was a beautiful moment. It was gratitude from my side to them, and the reception I was able to receive was unbelievable. I can only thank them enough.
Q: You were very decisive in the second half taking Diego and Marcus off and bringing on Alejandro. What was the thinking about the timing of those changes?
A: The timing was that I felt it was necessary in today’s game to make those changes. You could also see that players who played so many minutes and so many games because of the thin squad, they need replacement to keep them fit and healthy. There’s other players now in the squad that are back – Johnny Evans, fantastic how he comes in and does the job, and Lisandro going to left back and doing their jobs. I spoke to Alejandro before the game: “You’re playing so many games, so many minutes. I want you fresh from the bench to make a difference as a sub.” That’s the reality where we were in, and it’s good to have many more players on board like Christian Eriksen who could step in for Casemiro, who also played almost everything over the last period.
Q: Rudi, are you going to miss being in the technical area, or is it going to be an easy transition just to go back?
A: I only walked out of it, and fortunately it’s getting me back into it. I don’t want to be there, but I’m too connected to the game. I think it’s important to know your role – that’s very important – and then things can work. In my first month here in my role as assistant, I did my job, I knew my role, knew how to support others. In an interim period, you have to take your responsibility, and that’s another reality which I try to fulfill. Both are good jobs.
Q: Perhaps a difficult question to answer, but your team has gone unbeaten in this short spell, the team is scoring, they kept clean sheets. Is there any part of you that’s perhaps a little bit disappointed that the club didn’t just let your interim spell play out and see how you did?
A: No, I appreciated the clear communication of the club that it was an interim spell for a short term – could have been one or two games even, that was the first communication. They kept me in the loop and said it’s going to be four games, it’s going to be announced new head coach, etc. For me, it is important to have that clarity and I appreciated that. In the end, the most important thing is this football club, and I’m here to support that in my role. As I said, I want to continue doing that in the future. Now also the communication was that after the block of four games, there will be communication towards you and your colleagues that are in an uncertain situation, so I expect to hear today or tomorrow from them.
Q: I want to talk about the partnership between Amad and Bruno Fernandes. On Thursday you said you want them both to work as number 10, but today they seem to be passing to each other very often. Is there something you hope can be built upon?
A: You know, for me it was important to look at the games and how we can be as successful as we can. The first half we started with Mazraoui on the left side going high and making it three with Dalot and Mainoo. That meant Amad was on the line and Bruno was close to him. In the second half, it changed because I put Mazraoui on the right and Amad could be more inside, so he was a 10 both with Bruno. But in both situations they connect and they know how to deal with tight spaces and get things going in tight areas. I think it was a good example, the first goal, how it came across.
