O'Neil on Wolves 3-4 Utd
O'Neil on Wolves 3-4 Utd
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00:00 What's the overriding feeling after seeing you two fight back in the semi-final?
00:04 Yeah, a couple and pretty close between them, probably disappointed obviously.
00:12 Incredibly proud of some of what we managed to produce and
00:16 yeah, resilience, togetherness, quality.
00:22 So, large spells of the game where we looked very close to being an excellent team
00:30 and then some little bits that we need to improve obviously.
00:35 The two goals in the second half were just really disappointing because they're down to detail
00:41 and corner goal at a tough time, sort of lose our man strangely as well.
00:48 It wasn't a difficult one to pick up and we lose him.
00:52 Then, yes, the throw-in at the end, that's not how we defend.
00:57 Throw-ins to allow Man United to throw that forward into an attacking player
01:02 when we've just worked so hard to get back to 3-3 isn't what we do.
01:07 But you are tested in the Premier League, the emotion of it,
01:12 probably the fact that Rashford scores so early affects our emotion in the first half
01:17 and we go completely off plan and just start running around and opening up big spaces.
01:23 So, bits that we need to improve, but in terms of togetherness, work ethic, quality
01:32 against a top side, massive club, second half I thought we were by far the better side,
01:37 which takes some doing.
01:39 So, disappointed for the lads because to put that much in and be heavily punished
01:43 for some sort of small errors in detail is tough for them to take.
01:48 But very proud also of what they've managed to produce there.
01:52 Firstly, I mean, today, to have to leave, to be working all day in the office
02:11 trying to figure out stuff with Matt and the recruitment team
02:14 and be prepping for a game against Manchester United
02:17 and then to have to leave the office at 5 to come and do the game
02:20 and literally just being updated there, I hadn't heard a thing since 5 till 30 seconds
02:25 before you've asked me the question, is a crazy way to spend a deadline day.
02:30 I think playing football matches on the deadline day is a terrible idea.
02:34 Secondly, yes, we didn't manage to get a nine done.
02:40 A few that I really liked and we couldn't afford any.
02:44 We could afford some, but not ones that I thought would help us.
02:48 So, as I said, the group is the group and we get to work on trying to maximise it.
03:06 Oh, yes, I don't really want to go through what ifs.
03:10 It's important that Sascha plays. I don't think he'd have played much for us.
03:15 It's important that Fabio plays.
03:18 He wouldn't have played much for us.
03:21 So, are we short of a number nine? Yes.
03:24 I felt we were short of a number nine when them two were still here.
03:27 So, we're still short of a number nine.
03:29 So, that's where we are.
03:33 And, like I said, really keen not to just panic and sign anybody.
03:37 Financial stuff was an issue for us.
03:40 Speaking to Chelsea about Brogia for a lot of the day.
03:47 I haven't checked, but I presume he's gone to Fulham.
03:51 We couldn't match. We just couldn't afford to do it financially with where it ended up.
03:55 And that's where we are as a football club.
03:59 But we haven't been deducted ten points.
04:02 We're still together. We're still putting in performances that show we're all together.
04:06 We'll try and keep it moving that way between now and the end of the season.
04:10 So, Chani will be back soon, hopefully.
04:13 Don't want to wish him bad in any of his games, but Chani will be back soon.
04:16 As you saw today, the group is willing to give everything.
04:21 And I'm working as hard as I can to maximise what we produce.
04:25 Was there a temptation to be a bit selfish and keep him around for the numbers?
04:32 Yeah, I think centre midfield, unless we have a disastrous spell, we are fairly well covered.
04:42 We generally play with two.
04:44 Bouba won't be away for too long now.
04:48 And we have João, Mario, Tommy, who have all been excellent.
04:52 And Bouba to come back, who has also had some real good games for us.
04:56 So, the one area of the field where we probably could afford to let João...
05:01 João's really keen to play and he's at a point of his career where I think he needs to.
05:05 And I can't guarantee that he will here.
05:07 So, he's been allowed to go and play in the Championship,
05:12 which is a good level for him to try and help him progress.
05:15 If he was a number nine, he definitely wouldn't have gone.
05:21 Gary, you obviously brought Nathan Fraser on today.
05:24 Considering the lack of a number nine, Simon, how do you manage him now?
05:28 Because he's also incredibly young, but equally talented and unique players that can come on and make an impact.
05:34 Nathan will be fine.
05:37 He's going to be thrown in to get some football experience in the Premier League,
05:42 with where we are at this moment.
05:46 With actual number nines, obviously him and Chani are really the only two at the club.
05:51 JJ does a decent job there for us. He's working very hard at it.
05:55 And Nathan will get some opportunities maybe that he didn't expect to get at this point in his career.
06:02 I don't know how long he played today, but whatever it was, 25 minutes, half an hour, whatever,
06:06 against Manchester United at this stage is an incredible experience for him.
06:11 So, yes, I'll have a real clear understanding of where Nathan is and what he needs,
06:16 and when he needs exposure to things and when he needs to be protected from things we'll stay on top of.
06:21 But, as always, with the best interests of the group at heart and trying to progress the football club.
06:27 Just wondering what is the most impressive part of him as a footballer?
06:32 Within minutes of him coming on, he makes a really intelligent run that doesn't get found.
06:37 To have that confidence within minutes of coming on to be making those runs against world-class defenders of Manchester United,
06:42 that's the kind of sound I suppose you need to see from him.
06:45 Yes, he's been around a lot of the work that we do.
06:47 So all the work that we've done with Chani or JJ, all the other attacking players, he's been around.
06:53 So he understands the structure and what we try and do.
06:56 So that gives him a good chance. The fact that he's unbelievably willing, incredibly determined,
07:03 and has some quality gives him a chance of being able to affect games like this.
07:08 Obviously it is a big ask for him, he's 18, he's not played a great deal of senior football.
07:13 But he's going to get some opportunities now and we'll get to find out exactly where he is.
07:18 We move on to Chelsea, one o'clock tomorrow.