Russell Martin is encouraged by his side's performance after 1-0 defeat to Man City
Manchester City 1 - 0 Southampton
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK.
26/10/2024
Manchester City 1 - 0 Southampton
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK.
26/10/2024
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Russell, a very spirited defensive performance today, are you happy enough with that as you could be?
00:06Yeah, it wasn't just defensive, mate. I thought we were brilliant with the ball. I thought we were fantastic with the ball.
00:11For so long we defended with the ball as much as we could. The courage to play football was brilliant.
00:16I've done about seven interviews now where we've spoken a lot about the defending, which was brilliant.
00:21The way they defended the box, the guys are stuck at it, but the courage to take the ball and play in the way they wanted to play was amazing,
00:27especially after going down 1-0 so early at one of the toughest places to come in the world.
00:31I have nothing but pride and gratitude for the players today because if we're going to lose, we need to lose in our way.
00:37It hasn't felt like that last week or the week before.
00:40Today I have nothing but pride and positive things to say about the team.
00:46We really hurt them on the ball at times, I think, and not many teams do that.
00:49If we can take the same mentality in terms of the willingness to run and defend and dig in and fight in tough moments that we showed today,
00:56but also the way to play football that we want to play with the ball, then we're going to be fine.
01:01You mentioned they're going behind in five minutes, but the team keeping their composure, was that really pleasing for you?
01:05Yes, I think it helped that we had Jack and Adam on the pitch today. It really helped.
01:08I thought they were both outstanding. It helped the young guys a lot around them.
01:14I think whatever we do tactically with the shape and build-up and all that stuff, just their mentality helps the team.
01:20I think their inclusion was big for us today.
01:24You mentioned Jack, he's obviously missed five games. Was it a no-brainer for you to bring him back?
01:27100 per cent, yes. I think, especially in a tough time, when you see someone day-to-day, he's an amazing footballer.
01:34You saw that last season when he plays different roles for us and what he can do with the ball.
01:39Brilliant awareness, technically really good.
01:42He maybe lacks the athleticism that some players have, which is a bit more eye-catching,
01:46but in terms of mentality and willingness to play the way we want to play and the belief the other players have in him, he's huge.
01:53You're a bit unlucky to get a book in today.
01:56I don't really speak out about that, but I'm going to miss next week's game for throwing my arms up in the air at a bad decision.
02:01Because Flynn takes the ball and then gets booked for it.
02:05We had an apology last week about a decision that was made that we weren't given.
02:08I didn't say anything after the game in the press, but today I am.
02:11I didn't swear at the full official, I threw my arms up in the air at a bad decision and I get booked for it.
02:15I'm not happy about that because I miss a game next week.
02:18If I'm wrong and I deserve a yellow card, then I hold my hands up.
02:22But today, I think that's nonsense.
02:24I'll probably get fined for that as well, but it is nonsense.
02:26You're totally right.
02:27Coach asked about the fitness for three of the lads.
02:29Flynn looked a bit bad towards the end there.
02:31Yuki, not a fit start, didn't come on.
02:33And Tyler, you brought him off half-time, maybe tactical.
02:35Yeah, Tyler was tactical.
02:38He looked knackered.
02:39So we spoke about this on Thursday.
02:42He's an 18-year-old lad.
02:44The level of intensity has gone through the roof for him compared to what he's used to.
02:47He's playing against the best team in the country, in Europe.
02:50And it just wasn't quite his day.
02:52And defensively, he needed a bit more help with Adam, who knows and understands the game a bit more.
02:55And also, we felt Adam runs in behind because he's one of the best at it.
02:59It could really hurt them, and it did on a few occasions.
03:01So it was just a tactical one.
03:02Tyler's been amazing.
03:03He'll be fine.
03:04He'll learn a lot from today.
03:05Yuki, we maybe could have brought him on, but chose Breezy just because we've had to monitor him in training and managing.
03:10But I wanted him in a squad just in case.
03:12So hopefully, he'll be fit for Tuesday.
03:14We'll see.
03:15I'd like to start from the start.
03:17And Flynn just seems a bit battered and bruised.
03:19I thought he was great today.
03:20Like, the Flynn that we know and love was really, really back.
03:23So many of them played with a spring in their step and big courage today, which I love.
03:26Taylor Howard-Bellis was fantastic.
03:28And Kyle on the right was really brilliant.
03:31So, yeah, they need to live there now.
03:33But hopefully, all three will be fine for Tuesday.
03:37Just to clarify, sir, you know you said you're going to miss a game.
03:39Yeah.
03:40Is that the league game or the League Cup game?
03:41I presume it'll be a league game, yeah.
03:44How was the final?
03:46Good question, no?
03:47Yeah, yeah.
03:48Sorry, I thought you were going to move back.
03:49Doesn't matter.
03:52Bernardo, after the game, has been very complimentary about your team and the way they played today.
03:56I saw you have a few words with Pep at the final whistle.
03:59I guess he was complimentary to you as well?
04:01Yeah, yeah, as was Phil Foden.
04:05Yeah, I think they felt that we were really brave with the ball.
04:08And we did, like Phil said, we did some stuff to them that not many teams do.
04:13And, yeah, Pep congratulated us on the way the team looks and the way it plays.
04:16I think, yeah, it's not easy to play that way.
04:20And he probably understands that more than anyone.
04:24But we really believe in it.
04:25And, like, we have to believe in something.
04:30And I've seen so many teams get promoted and just change and then end up nowhere.
04:34And we've been a little bit in between the last few weeks, not quite where we want to be.
04:39Because we have to be, like, extreme in some ways to take the ball in places people would not enjoy taking it usually.
04:48And we have to play with extreme courage all the time.
04:51And in moments when we've gone ahead recently, especially, it's been quite tense and not us.
04:56And I just don't enjoy that.
04:58So if we lose, I can accept it when the lads show a level of courage like they did today.
05:03And I hope now we can get them to live there all the time.
05:06Because if they can do that here, they can do that anywhere.
05:08And, yeah.
05:09So, listen, whilst compliments are nice and all that, it still hurts to lose.
05:12But there is a way for us to lose.
05:14And that will be to, like...
05:16And for me as well, I'm going to live and die by the sword in what I believe in.
05:19Otherwise, I just can't do it.
05:20And the players really believe they're fighting.
05:22Subjectively, we should be doing better.
05:24Objectively, we should be doing better as well.
05:26So if we keep playing like we did today, we'll have some fun and be all right.
05:31Hi, Russell.
05:32Back of the room.
05:33Oh, yeah.
05:34Just with the suspension, is it...
05:36I know it's probably a silly question.
05:38Is there any way you can appeal it?
05:39I don't think so.
05:40I don't know how that works in yellow card.
05:41So I'm annoyed about it.
05:43But I probably shouldn't say any more about it.
05:45But that is obviously a huge game next weekend.
05:48But obviously, there'll be ugly stats.
05:50So real doubt they have been after every game so far this season in the league.
05:54But this is the kind of performance that underlines your belief and why you keep saying that you believe this can still be a positive.
05:59Yeah.
06:00And I hope the away fans are amazed.
06:01And I hope they felt proud of their team today.
06:03I hope that's what...
06:04That's our job is to give them a team to be proud of that plays in a way that they can identify with.
06:08And that team today ran so hard and played with so much courage.
06:11So today gave me more belief than I have.
06:13And I believe since the start of the season that the players can play this way in the Premier League and enable us to stay up in the Premier League.
06:19And today has given me even more belief in that.
06:21But we have a massive two weeks coming here starting on Tuesday.
06:25Russell, you've spoken about your players and the fans and courage.
06:30When you say you live or die by the way your team plays, do you have to have courage?
06:37Because it'd be easy to think, Crumbs, if this goes against us, what's going to happen to me?
06:42And kind of close in, whereas you seem to be opening out.
06:47Yeah, I think I took the job nearly five years ago now in League One in the relegation zone with a chairman that was so brave.
06:53Because when he offered me the job, I said to him how I saw the game.
06:57And he told me he didn't care if he got relegated as long as he had something that he felt he could be proud of with his team.
07:02And would develop players and improve them and show the best version.
07:05So I was at the fortune of that.
07:08And there have been some moments of real difficulty at MK, at Swansea and here where it gets questioned a lot.
07:17And then you have to make a big decision.
07:21And we've always made the decision to be who we are.
07:24And then if I end up losing my job at some point, which is somehow in five years I haven't yet.
07:29But it's inevitable at some point as a manager.
07:32At least I can look at myself and know that I've stuck to what I want and who I want to be as a person first and foremost.
07:38And also as a leader and then a manager in terms of the idea on the pitch.
07:43And then everyone else will have an opinion on football.
07:45We all have different opinions.
07:46And there is no right or wrong way.
07:48I've said that from the off.
07:49This way is right for me because of how I see the game and how I would have liked to have played the game and what I believe in.
07:54And also my skill set in trying to deliver said product on the pitch is why we got the job here in the first place.
08:00So to then get to the Premier League and change is completely illogical to me in whatever level it will be.
08:05So whatever level I manage at and I hope to embark on a long managerial career.
08:09The teams will always have the same principle ethos to try and identity or vision of the game.
08:16But they'll all look different.
08:17The three teams we've had have always statistically looked the same, felt the same.
08:21They've tried to dominate the ball and be brave.
08:23Some of the players have had big success and gone on to brilliant things.
08:26So that will be no different.
08:29But how they've done it in terms of shape, formation, distance, all that stuff is really different.
08:34So I'm learning all the time.
08:36I have a lot to learn.
08:37I'm not very good at the moment because we've lost seven games or whatever it is.
08:41So I need to get better and improve.
08:43But I love my job and I love the way the team play today.
08:45And I can't stand on the sideline not watching something that I don't feel connected with or enjoy or love.
08:50Because then I just don't see the point in that really.