SOME OF THE JOSE PRE MATCH EVERTON P/C
What's the latest on injuries?
Same. Good morning everyone, or good afternoon. Same. Doherty and Davies out. Let's say the first team players, everything the same, Dane Scarlett that I can consider a first team player because he's working with us every day got injured, in the youth cup match. He will not be available for a couple of weeks, maybe.
How is Son after that racist abuse?
I think he's ok. He's loved. He's loved here, loved at home, I believe he got the support that he needed here, and at home. So I think he's fine.
Did the post-game comments make the abuse worse?
I prefer not to comment. I'm sorry, I prefer not to comment.
Big nine days coming up, is it important to start well at Goodison Park?
Yeah but independent of the result at Goodison, and the result against Southampton, as you say, big nine days and the nine days are going to end with a cup final. Which of course, for all of us, is going to be an important moment.
So we are not depending on the Goodison result to go to that final with the best spirit, with the best feelings. But in this moment, the final is still a little bit far. And of course the Goodison match is very important. The distance between the two teams is very, very short. Of course they have one match in hand, in relation to us. But the distance is very, very short. They have similar objectives than us. They are going to fight with us, and with other clubs to try the best possible position, and see if we and them can get a European position.
So it's an important match tomorrow. We need to separate the waters. We need to say: the cup final is important, but is not the match tomorrow, we need to focus totally on a very difficult match.
The players' unions internationally are asking for these new concussion substitutes to be temporary so that they may agree to come off in case they are found to be fine to continue, what do you think?
I think it makes sense but I’ve learned over the past couple of years to be just quiet and my opinion is not important than to accept what is coming. So many different rules or things changing, you have just to accept the way it is, but in a very simple comment I think it makes sense.
I know you're a fan of dogs, are you happy with the new sponsor, the Dulux dog?
What’s that?
The club have unveiled a new sponsor and it's Dulux, the big sheep dog?
(Turns to press officer) What's that?
It's 18 points now dropped from winning positions, can you expand now why that's happening?
I know why it happened and I know also that you can look at it in a different perspective. A team that starts matches well and starts winning matches means something positive, means something positive that you like to forget – the positive aspect of that. But I agree with you in the sense that if you’re in winning positions and you lose points from winning positions, there are also negative things side by side to it.
But if you add those points to your total it would propel you up the league, what are the reasons it keeps happening?
That’s what I’m not ready to discuss with you. I think it has to do with some of our qualities as a team but I’m not ready to discuss with you.
When will you be ready?
Maybe never.
You've had a lot of academy players in training with the first team this week, more than normal, why is that?
We did a training session in different groups and even on different pitches and we were trying to develop different qualities.
To do that, we separated our players into different groups and we needed some young players to help us in developing that training session. At the same time, it’s not just about using them to try to develop their qualities because every time they come to us it’s a very positive experience for them.
So the academy boss Dean [Rastrick] is always very, very open – he likes to help us, he knows that we also help him help the development of those players. It was good for us because they help us and good for them because we help them.
We have 20 players available out of 22, it’s not a question of injuries or not enough players or taking these young players to the next match. No. It’s not about that at all.
Does it make it difficult for the defensive process that you haven't been able to settle on a regular centre-back pairing?
Because one of the things that you – the media generally – and always for players in general, the perception is that everybody wants to play, everybody wants opportunities. When they don’t do it you always ask the players not playing and why not. You can look at it in a different perspective. You can always play the same two or say that kind of rotation which gives opportunities equally to everyone.
Is the loser tomorrow out of the Champions League equation?
We’re very close to each other but there are more clubs around. There are some clubs with a few more points, some others with a few less but with still more than 20 points on the table, I think it’s still open. Of course it’s the kind of match where winner gets the points and stops the lose from getting them. If you draw you stay more or less in the same position. So understandably I don’t think anything will be decided in there. But of course if one of the two teams wins and gets an advantage, that can be important in the direct duel. Not in the relation to all the others that are around. If one team wins, of course, gets an important advantage to the other.
What do you make of Everton's season?
I think they go in the right direction. They have got a big coach, one of the best in the world. They got important players and players of two directions, they get a player coming from Real Madrid and two from Barcelona and at the same time they get the young guy that comes from Norwich, people from different formations. They have a very good squad and I think this is just the beginning for them. I believe with Carlo's quality and experience, the work and improving, this is just the beginning for them. This Everton is different from Everton of previous seasons and for sure next season is going to be different for the better, it is the start of a process and nobody better than Carlo to be in charge. I see a very bright future for them.
What are the main strengths you will have to contend with?
They have everything. Starting with a good coach. They didn't play Europe this season, they and complete weeks to work and develop things. They can play in different systems during the season you can see how many systems they play. They have talent in attack, they have quality in midfield, they have physicality behind, they can play with a back four or five. They have a tactical coach and they have had time to develop. They are a very good combination and a very good team.
Is Matt Doherty close to a return and how long will Ben Davies be out for?
It’s risky to say. Matt Doherty did the warm up with us so if you saw the pictures, it was just the warm-up and immediately went to sports science for individual work. He’s not ready for tomorrow, he's not ready but he’s coming.
Ben Davies not even close to that but I’d say after 51 matches or so, in the last couple of months of the season to arrive in this situation with only two players injured, I would say we cannot complain because the work has been good and the squad as a whole is in good condition.
It's been confirmed there will be 2,000 fans at Wembley for the cup final. Will that help boost you?
The information I got is that we’re going to have 2,000 fans.
