Kalvin Phillips has ‘niggles’ and Cole Palmer is a doubt for tomorrow, in addition to Laporte injured.
on Sergio Gomez: “He’s one for now. He’s going to stay with our squad and he will be with Joao, Josh [Wilson-Esbrand] and him for the left-back [position], he’ll stay with us.”
on Haaland: “He’s an incredible competitor, wants to win. His sense of goal. What impresses me most is he has a good education, he’s humble, how much he talks with young players, not just important players, always talks. Settles good, like Julian [Alvarez] and the other guys.”
on injuries: “We have Kalvin [Phillips] with some niggles, Cole Palmer had a knock in his feet so is a doubt [for Bournemouth]. The rest fine.”
on Bournemouth: “They don’t have anything to lose, after good karma being promoted, complicated. After a few months, all teams have injuries, good moments, bad moments, mood in the locker room, things happen. In the first games, everyone pushes. Always tricky.”
on Haaland vs West Ham: “He has qualities to score but in the process, I don’t like the striker waiting for the ball. I want him involved, he likes to touch the ball. Not Erling, all of them, they all have to run and have the freedom to respect position.
If he wants to drop, he can do it. Good linking, extra passes, close to the box I don’t want him dropping, I want him scoring like Julian [Alvarez]. All players like to be in touch with the ball. ”
… more to follow…