Van Nistelrooy on Utd’s comfortable 2-0 UEL win against PAOK
07/11/2024
Old trafford, Manchester, UK
07/11/2024
Old trafford, Manchester, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Do we have a microphone in the room?
00:04Do we have a microphone?
00:08Oh yeah. Thanks. So if, please use the
00:12microphone for questions.
00:16Simon.
00:24Hi. Congratulations.
00:28How do you assess that performance?
00:32Because the first half didn't look the best,
00:34but Amad has come up with two goals to win the game.
00:38The first half wasn't good, that's clear.
00:42Very good point.
00:46I think we created hardly anything.
00:50Pau neither, they didn't create a lot,
00:54so in that sense we were okay, but we didn't get going.
00:58I think our possession wasn't good enough,
01:02we made many technical mistakes, our shape wasn't good.
01:06It was at times, but not long enough,
01:10and every time in that shape that we wanted to play,
01:14the second half we were a lot better.
01:18We persisted in finding Casemiro and Nugata
01:22in front of the defence,
01:26or Amad and Bruno in the ten positions.
01:30That's where we started playing better and creating more chances,
01:34getting better of the game, playing on their half more.
01:38As you said, Amad made the difference there with two good goals.
01:44You described this as a big period for the club,
01:48can you explain what you mean by that?
01:52I wonder how you assess what you've done so far
01:56in terms of steadying the ship beforehand?
02:00Well, I think every game is important in this season,
02:06and that's why I said the short spell of four games is an important period to react,
02:12especially when we lost against West Ham.
02:16Of course, we needed to start getting results,
02:20that's why I said that it was important.
02:28Other than that, your other question was how I assess...
02:32What you've done so far in terms of steadying the ship beforehand?
02:36Yeah, for me it's important now to carry on and build on results of Leicester,
02:44of Chelsea and of PAOK.
02:48That's the second half we can build on, the result we can build on.
02:52The first European home win after one year,
02:58we addressed that in the dressing room and it was time to change that.
03:04The players did very well doing so,
03:08and Sunday is a big game for us in the league,
03:14to get a good performance in again.
03:21Why did you think the team were better in the second half?
03:24Did you say something to them at half-time?
03:26Was the positioning better in the second half?
03:29Yeah, I addressed the positioning a lot in the half-time.
03:34We left positions too much in the first half,
03:38that's why we didn't get going.
03:40We couldn't find our sixes and play forward to the players that we wanted,
03:46in dangerous positions like Bruno and Ahmad.
03:51I think we did very well in the second half to stay in those positions,
03:57and there you saw some fluidity occurring and better play on the ball,
04:04and that led to more chances.
04:09Good evening, Mr Van Dijk. Ahmad got two goals today,
04:12can I ask what impressed you most about his performance?
04:15Well, I think the second goal that had everything in it for me is Ahmad Diallo.
04:24He fought to take the ball off the Puyol defender,
04:29and then he pushed through to get the shot,
04:34and in the end he had the quality to bend it round the goalkeeper,
04:38so that sums him up.
04:42Just on Ahmad Diallo, I think it was his first start in seven games,
04:45do you think that was some extra motivation for him to take that opportunity?
04:50Definitely so, because I think he was excellent in the first half,
04:53he was our best player already, he looked sharp, he did well.
04:57In the second half he decided the game for us with two important goals,
05:01so he did excellent.
05:04Following on that theme, he seems like a difference-maker,
05:07he's currently a difference-maker for this side,
05:09and just following on that, how is he?
05:12Yeah, of course he had to come off, unfortunately.
05:17He's being assessed now, and of course I hope that he will be available for Sunday,
05:23but we have to wait and see.
05:25That he can be a difference-maker?
05:28Yeah, his qualities are clear, the way he presented himself today
05:32was excellent and important for this team.
05:36Hi, Ruud, I just want to ask you about the incident at the place in the first half,
05:40when I think a lot of people thought that the VAR would give it up,
05:46how did you see the situation?
05:50There was the situation with Amad as well, no?
05:53I haven't seen the TV footage yet to comment on it,
05:59but obviously there's a few referees in the room to check,
06:06and closely also on TV, so they didn't think it was an obvious mistake.
06:14So then you have to... Yeah, the game goes on.
06:23Ruud, good evening.
06:24We're all obviously very curious to know what happens in the next few days,
06:27do you hope that yet another good performance that you've overseen
06:31will maybe enhance your prospects of being involved from next week onwards?
06:37Well, I think that Ruben, what he's saying,
06:43he focuses on Braga and I focus on Leicester.
06:46I think that's a great one for now,
06:49and that shows that we're focused on the day-by-day job
06:54and get the maximum out of the team.
06:56So let him focus on Braga, I'll focus on Leicester, and we'll see after that.
07:01I take it you've had no contact with him as yet?
07:06I've got to check my phone now, so I will do so later.
07:10Would you be disappointed if he doesn't get contact with you next week?
07:14I'm only busy with one thing in my mind, I want my last game in as an interim.
07:22I want to prepare it as good as I can and give the players everything they need
07:28to get the best performance out of them,
07:30and hopefully get three very important games,
07:34and that's my absolute focus.
07:38Other than that, I don't look too far ahead, to be really honest.
07:42It's too important.
07:44OK, last question, Paul.
07:50Hi, Ruben, just on Ahmad again.
07:52He's been here for three and a half years, things have not always gone his way.
07:56He's been in and out of the team, out on loan,
07:59and yet he still tries, as you say, to give his all.
08:02What does that say about him as a character?
08:05Can you just go into a bit more detail about...
08:07He said he wants extra training, does he do that regularly?
08:11Yes, he's a great character and he's a hard worker.
08:17He shows that in every training session.
08:22That attitude and also extra work, every day after training he comes to me
08:31and he wants to do extra finishing, extra crossing, extra one-on-ones,
08:35how can I improve my shot, how can I improve my heading, etc., etc., etc.
08:41He's constantly focused on learning, getting better,
08:46living in a very professional way,
08:50so he's very motivated to get the maximum out of his career.
08:54After so many games he didn't start, he had a great performance today,
08:59so I was very pleased for him.
09:01Thank you very much.