Pompey boss John Mousinho previews the visit from Barnsley, with his side looking for promotion from League One and two points to win the title.
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00:00John, first of all, many congratulations on being the EFL Manager of the Year for League
00:05One and also three of your players were in the Team of the Year as well.
00:09Yeah, I mean, it feels great to be able to have that recognition, I think particularly
00:15to the players, I think they thoroughly deserve it. Those three have been outstanding all
00:18season. I think we could have had a couple more players in the side, considering how
00:21well some of the lads have performed this year, but there were some fantastic players
00:24in League One, so really, really proud of the boys. I think it's a massive achievement
00:27for them to be able to do that, and that was a big part of making sure that we did
00:31go down to London last night just to pick up the rewards. I think it's a rare thing
00:37for players to be able to achieve in their careers, so the lads have done it, they thoroughly
00:41deserve it, they're all really, really professional in terms of the way they're going to go about
00:44their business. Yeah, I think if we manage to get the job done tomorrow night, then everything
00:49that we've been recognised for over the weekend is going to feel even sweeter.
00:52As a player, did you ever get in those divisional teams at all?
00:55No, I didn't, and that was a big part of why I thought it was important for the players
00:59to go down and pick that reward up, because you can go through a whole career and never
01:05receive anything like that, so it is special. I think people have clearly recognised what
01:08the lads have done and what the lads are trying to achieve this year. Those three have been
01:12absolutely outstanding, and they should enjoy it.
01:15What was the evening like?
01:16It was good. It was a bit of a strange one, because we had one eye on Barnsley and we
01:20wanted to make sure that we did everything right logistically, but it was a fantastic
01:24evening. They always have great occasions down at the Grosvenor. The EFL put on really
01:28good awards, and I think the lads enjoyed it. I think all of the staff connected to
01:34Portsmouth that went down enjoyed it as well, so it was a really good occasion.
01:38Late one or not?
01:39Not too late. We got off as soon as the awards were done, so we had a bit of press to do
01:44after the back end of the awards, but I think if you looked at the itinerary, there was
01:48half the party on there, which we dodged, which was obviously always in the plan, just
01:53making sure that we were as professional as possible. The lads were brilliant, and
01:57they came on, they obviously collected their awards, they were brilliant all night, and
02:02it was just for them, all about making sure that we got back, got themselves in the bed.
02:08We reported a bit later today, so they've got a bit more sleep, and then we're going
02:11to be fine on Medgar for tonight.
02:13Of course, we're doing this early press at nine o'clock this morning. What time are
02:16the players due in then?
02:17The players will be in at midday, so just give them a bit of extra time, especially
02:20after the Bolton game as well, so not for those three. With the travel back after the
02:23Bolton game, hopefully they've done all their recovery. I know they would have done all
02:26their recovery yesterday, and we'll be back in today ready and ready to go.
02:30Which brings us nicely into the Barnsley game. What would you make of Barnsley at the moment?
02:34So, Barnsley have been the side that have competed in the top six all year, and to be
02:38honest, I think up until last week, they've dropped out of challenging us for an automatic
02:42promotion spot, so they've been right up there in terms of consistent sides that have performed
02:46really well. They're a massive danger as a goal threat with individuals they've got,
02:51but also collectively, having put quite a few goals past quite a few sides this season,
02:55so we know that they are a real threat. I think coming off the back of a player final
02:59defeat last year, losing the players that they lost to regroup to go with a new head
03:03coach and to do as well as they've done, I think it's a remarkable achievement, and we
03:05know that they are a good side and they're a tough, tough side to play. We found that
03:10out, especially at their place in the second half, where it was a really difficult occasion
03:13for us, but we are looking forward to having them down at Fratton Park, but we know we've
03:17got a job on our hands.
03:19Probably up until the point where they drew 2-1 against Bolton, they were the form side
03:23and they were a huge threat coming up fast on the outside, weren't they?
03:26Yeah, and they started the season really well, maybe dropped off slightly, but then picked
03:30up form incredibly well, and it was no surprise to us, considering how much time we've watched
03:36them, what we know about their side, what we know about Neil and how well he's done
03:40as a head coach in his first job in this country, and just everything we said there
03:44about the attacking threat they've got on the pitch, so we have to be very, very wary
03:48of them. They're still fighting for points and fighting for a player position at the
03:52moment, and we have to make sure that we're fully on top of ourselves going into Tuesday.
03:57As everyone knows, Tuesday night under the Fratton Park lights, or there's not even any
04:02proper floodlights anymore, but under the lights anyway at Fratton Park, there are special
04:05occasions, and that promises to be the same, doesn't it, for this one?
04:09Yeah, I think so. Honestly, if you'd have asked me after the Derby game if the atmosphere
04:13could get any better than that, I would have said absolutely not, but going into tomorrow
04:17night, I've got a feeling it will be. From the start of the game, I remember at Derby,
04:21the noise was just incredible from all four sides, so yeah, expect a bit more of that
04:25tomorrow night. It's quite exciting thinking about it. We've got to make sure we get the
04:28right balance between not getting too carried away, I'd only spoken about that all season,
04:32but also if you have that opportunity to play in front of your home fans and possibly get
04:37promoted and win the title in front of your home fans, I think that's a massive incentive
04:40for everybody connected to the football club, so I'm really looking forward to it.
04:44And of course, Pompey Women win promotion and win the title yesterday as well.
04:47Yeah, I mean, fantastic achievement, and that was one that hopefully everybody connected
04:53to the women's side and actually connected to the football club really savours. It happened
04:57under different circumstances, but I'm sure that there's plenty of time, or there will
05:01be plenty of time for the dust to settle and for everybody to realise what a fantastic
05:04achievement it is and how well the women's side have done this year. James has been absolutely
05:09fantastic. Anytime I've seen the women play, we've absolutely blown sides away, and it's
05:14nothing less than everybody connected to the women's side deserve. There are some people
05:18that have been working hard for a number of years to try and achieve what the club are
05:22trying to achieve, so hopefully everything goes well with the promotion and all the I's
05:27are dotted and the T's are crossed, I think, by the time we start the season next year,
05:31but it's fantastic. I think it's a really, really good start to the week, and yeah, congratulations
05:35to everyone connected to the football club.
05:37I appreciate the players aren't in yet, but what's the situation regarding injuries?
05:40I mean, unless Steve tells me anything otherwise, which we've been in communication all weekend
05:45checking on it, we've got no new injuries, so we've got a squad of 24 fit pros to select
05:49from for Tuesday night, and I think that's a bit of a headache for myself and the staff
05:54picking a squad, let alone a team. I think that's a fantastic position for us to be in,
05:58considering how many injuries we've had this year, so we've got quite a few back, quite
06:02a few rounds to go, and I think we've got some really difficult decisions to make every
06:06Tuesday.
06:07And Tom Lowry's available again?
06:08Yeah, Tom's available.
06:10Thank you very much.
06:11Perfect.