The Spurs fans booed at half-time and full time, could you understand that?
“I prefer them not to boo, but I understand. It was not a good performance today and they have high expectations, which is absolutely fair. I think let’s say if we perform even better and still lose the football match today, I don’t think we hit the level we should. I think the players gave everything and then that’s the foundation and put their hearts out there, but football wise we didn’t hit our top level today.”
Does today show that there is work to do to get the squad to the level that you want?
“Yes, but it’s not about only making the squad the level. It’s also for us to not manage, but play different games. There’s one game against City, one kind of football, different kind of football against Burnley. Bournemouth completely different third kind of football and all kinds of football you need to be able to perform against, and we struggled with it.”
How excited are you to sign Xavi Simons?
“Yes, very excited, very happy that we signed him. I think it was a great signing from the club. He can play 10 or left winger, those are the two main positions.”
On Dominic Solanke’s injury, is there any reason why it’s resurfaced?
“Sometimes, you know, we just take a little bit longer time. It’s easier. It’s not like he re-injured it again, so you can say if you have a muscle injury, then you can maybe reinjure, it’s nothing to do with that. It’s not progressing as quick as we hoped for, but we are still positive that it can be solved in the next two weeks.”
How do you reflect on your first three league games in charge and have you got any plans for the international break?
“I think two good performances and one bad, so I would like to avoid bad performances. I think the lower level was too low today, so that’s what we need to raise. I think, again, work ethic and character in the team was good, but I think we lacked some football bits.”
When you’ve got a game like that where you’re struggling to break them down, what can Xavi bring with his skill set?
“I think he can bring on a day where I can say our structure building up and all that because it’s not only about that, then sometimes you need a player that can do something a little bit out of nothing, go past the player, produce a cross, a shot, a pass, with that extra quality that you need on the day, and that’s what I think he can bring.”