– Eddie Howe believes Newcastle deserved to win. Do you agree with him?
– I think, after the first half, they definitely deserved to win. From my point of view, after the second half we deserved to win. This is my point of view. After we scored the second goal, we had three or four clear chances to score another. They had one moment with Barnes, that’s the only one I remember as having a real chance. But overall, I think a draw is the right result.
– Why was the first half so bad?
– We changed something at the break, we adjusted some things. But, in general, I think that in this stadium, when you lose 0-2 in the first half, it is not easy for any team to come back.
– How important was Rhys James?
– He played a top match again. Played for an hour as a midfielder, and the last half an hour – in his place in defense. Again, he’s doing a fantastic job, not just with the goal, but overall, and we’re happy for him.
– It was a tough week for the team. What have you and the team learned during this time?
– We beat Everton last week, reached the semi-finals during the week, and today we bounced back and drew away against Newcastle. This is an important result. But there is always something to learn. Today, a lot can be taken from the first half. But I’m also happy with the reaction of the players.
– You have a very young team. When you come to stadiums like Newcastle, it’s very difficult – can the senior players help the team with their experience in these conditions?
– Yes, of course. Because they probably know better how to manage that noise or that situation. But I think the ones we have are doing a great job of that as well.
– 0-2 down in the first half – how deep did you and the players have to dig to equalize?
– Yes, that was my message at the end of the game. There are certainly moments in the first half that could be done better. But what they showed in the second half – character, cohesion – they should be proud. Because you know better than I do: here at Newcastle, losing 0-2 on the road, with the noise, the atmosphere, is not easy. Not many teams can do that, but they did.
– Enzo, this week has been difficult for you politically. Does this play and play show that the players are still on your side?
– My last week was not difficult. He was good. We beat Everton, we beat Cardiff and we drew with Newcastle away. Therefore, in terms of results, I am satisfied. Of course, there are moments that can be done better. But I think we are moving in the right direction.
– What did you say to the players at half-time to get such a reaction in the second half?
– The message at half-time was this: even if we were 0-2 down in the first half and the game was not good, I could see from the bench that the plan we prepared was correct. So my message in the first half was, keep believing in what we’re doing. We need to score the first goal and if we can do that we will have a chance to win the game. This was my message at the break.
– So there were no angry words in the dressing room?
– No, no, no. It has happened many times, I promise, but not today.
– Why were you warned with a yellow card?
– It’s better… I was just complaining because the same foul was a yellow card for us, and they did exactly the same foul three times. Make a foul from behind – and there is no yellow card. So I was just complaining why one team gets a yellow card for the same foul and the other doesn’t. That’s why I complained to the judge.
Source: sport.ua