Steve Cooper on Leicester's 3-0 mauling at Manchester Utd
10/11/2024
Old Trafford, Manchester, UK
10/11/2024
Old Trafford, Manchester, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Yes, so obviously it's never a good scoreline that you want to be on the end of. I think
00:16that the reality, as simple as it sounds, for United's goals, you'll see two shots
00:25from outside the box and I'm sure there's plenty to talk about in terms of the quality
00:31around that. But we've got to look at ourselves and see that we didn't get enough pressure
00:37on the ball for the shots, we didn't get enough pressure on the ball for the cross
00:41and the first contact, for the second goal, the first and third goal. The third goal will
00:47be a little bit longer as the phase of players started from our corner. So really, at the
00:55other end of the pitch, for as much as the good positions we got in, we never really
01:01looked like the threat that we're capable of. So that's where the scoreline was and
01:07we have to accept that we fell short in and around both boxes of creating scoring and
01:14obviously trying to stop the opponent. I felt the game was largely, in general play,
01:21fairly even. It never felt like one team was really on the ascendancy and was peppering
01:27a goal and things like that. We had some good phases and some good spells in the game, there's
01:31no doubt about that. I'm looking at some of the players and thinking they've played
01:34well today. But there were moments where, as a team, around both boxes, we've not been
01:44what we want to be in terms of stopping the goals and obviously scoring them as well.
01:48I know you've been asked in the past about this, but all three goals came down your right-hand
01:52side as well. Is that an area of concern for you now?
01:56I'll have to look at the ins and outs of the goals in more detail. You look at the game
02:05in isolation, but we've also got to look at bigger picture stuff as well. So whether there's
02:12a correlation of personnel for them two things, I don't know. It's something we'll definitely
02:16have to look at. But regardless of right-left-hand side, middle, we've not got up to the ball
02:23when they've been in and around our box and have allowed them to show the quality that
02:28they have. Once again, we leave here thinking that there was so much more we could have
02:36done in the game. In terms of the game, did it feel like a 3-0 loss? No, but it was because
02:47we didn't show enough at both ends of the pitch.
02:53You've scored in every game, but you didn't have that box threat. Can you put your finger
03:05on it?
03:07Like I said, there's a frustration, Jordan, because we were in more than enough positions
03:14today to really cause a threat. Whether it be in wide areas, whether it be through middle
03:20areas, whether it was 1v1s, whether it was combinations, passes and behind shooting,
03:24we just haven't done that next bit and turned it into chances and ultimately then goals.
03:30So it was a team thing, there's no doubt about that. And it's frustrating because, as you
03:35said, we've had at least one, and often in other games a lot more, moments where we have
03:41created chances and do look like we're going to score a goal. So it was frustrating that
03:45we didn't hit them levels today.
03:47Is Jamie's absence a reason behind that?
03:52It will always be, yes, because he comes alive in the box and it can be as good as it gets
04:03really, in terms of sniffing out a chance. And we actually did get in and around United's
04:08box a lot more than we have done other games, and that will be frustrating for him watching
04:15it. But it's about the guys who played today, obviously, and like I said, there was more
04:20than enough opportunities to cause damage today. But for whatever reason, and obviously
04:26we were lucky there, for whatever reason, we didn't turn good positions, good opportunities
04:31into productive moments.
04:34That's about Jamie and Ricardo.
04:37Yeah, Jamie's a bit inconclusive. He picked up quite a nasty knock to his back last week
04:44and he hasn't given me every opportunity. We just didn't manage to shake it off, even
04:50though we're still a week away. So we'll have to see how that goes. We're still, like I
04:58said, trying to work out exactly what it is. Ricky's more conclusive and serious hamstring
05:05injury and he's going to be ruled out for four months. So that's a blow, especially
05:10for him. We have to support them both now on their recovery, but Ricky will obviously
05:17be a lot longer than Jamie.
05:20There were a few boos from the Leicester fans at full-time, so what can you say to those
05:26fans to convince them that you're on the right track?
05:29Yeah, listen, I accept that it's a 3-0 defeat and you're not going to get cheered off in
05:38any way, whether you're here at Old Trafford or anywhere else. Like I've said to you before,
05:43I have no problem with any fan's reaction, good or bad, because they're entitled to do
05:47that, especially the three away games and the money that they spend and their commitment.
05:52I have a lot of respect for that, regardless of what they may feel. I will always respect
05:57the commitment of a football supporter.
06:02So now, like everything else, I'll accept any situation and be motivated to help it
06:12to feel better and to get better and keep going with what we believe in. Like I said,
06:18we've got the international break now to work with the players that are with us, but to
06:24do some extra work off the pitch in terms of reviewing, taking stock, planning and getting
06:31ready for when we recommence. There might be some let-off in terms of getting ready
06:35for games, because there is no game next week, but there won't be any days off for the staff
06:41and working towards getting going again in a couple of weeks.