Frank on VAR red card and Everton bore draw
23/11/2024
Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK
23/11/2024
Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00How positive is it to close out a game like that after training so badly this season?
00:18Very positive, no doubt about that. I think overall, with a lot of circumstances, we played
00:29a good game. I think the first half was average for us, but we still created the biggest chance
00:34in the game. I think we were brave on the ball and got a few passes, more than a few passes,
00:41and took a little bit, in that way a little bit, the noise out of Goodison, which is a very
00:46difficult and fantastic place to play. I would have liked us to be a little bit more dangerous
00:54in the first half, and also get more passes up in the half. In the second half, of course,
00:58because of the red card, I thought we defended fantastic. The character, mentality, work ethic,
01:06the principles we are working on in terms of defending all that top also actually had a few
01:13good opportunities the other way. I think it was actually a well-deserved point,
01:19and that's taken into account, 10-0 for a long time.
01:24And on that red card, what did you make of it?
01:26For me, it's not a red card, I must admit, after watching it back. I see a situation where it's
01:33coming across the six-yard box. Christian's eyes are clearly on the ball. He's stretching to try
01:39to touch it to go with Wisse. Wisse is just touching it with the ball, just changing a little
01:43bit the direction of the ball. Pickford is over here, moving across, of course, trying to save the
01:50ball. And then Christian is unlucky that he touches it on the leg of Pickford, no intention.
01:59He's actually pulling out of full force, so no intention of hurting or making a foul,
02:05just trying to score. You can see the reaction from Tchaikovsky and Cameron Lewin,
02:11just close by. If they thought it was a red card instantly, I promise you they would have complained,
02:16just like we would have done the other end. So I think that also wears that little bit of common
02:22sense. Then I don't know exactly what the law of the game is, but if the law of the game is that
02:32it's a red card, the game has changed. And I think either I need to take it into account,
02:40and then I need to tell my players that they can't jump in and try to score when the ball is
02:46getting across the six-yard box, which I think is not good. So the thing is, also the ref has been
02:54told to take on-field decisions. Chris took, in my opinion, a good on-field decision, but was
03:00overturned by VAR. If VAR is told that a touch on the leg is a red card, then we just need to make sure
03:07that that is the procedure going forward, and they're very, very, very, very consistent with
03:11that going forward. If it's not the law of the rule, then Chris was not brave enough to overturn
03:17the situation. And on top of this, there were several Ayrton players after the game saying
03:22that is not a red card. So we will most likely appeal this, and I hope the... I don't know, was it
03:31PGM or well, who makes the law, what are following it, and how web. I need to find out if that is the
03:37law going forward. Then, as I said, the game has changed, and I don't like that way. And if it's
03:43not, and the guys need to overturn it, and I don't think they can overturn it, then they also have
03:47changed. So that's my take on it.
03:49You got a yellow card in the aftermath?
03:51Yeah, yeah, I got a yellow card, which I also think was... In my opinion, I shouldn't have got
03:56the yellow card. Of course, I was frustrated I didn't abuse the fourth official. Yes, my wife
04:02said I got the evil eyes sometimes. So yes, I looked at Chris in there on the pitch, and maybe
04:07pointed a bit, 40 yards away. If that's enough to a yellow, then we're also taking emotions out of
04:14the game. I understand if I was running in and abusing him, then completely hold my hand up.
04:22It was interesting to note, you didn't make any changes until the 72nd minute.
04:27Obviously, it worked out in your favour, but I was wondering what the thinking behind that was.
04:31Because I thought I had the players on the pitch to do what we would like. So first,
04:36we just changed quick to a 4-3-2, because we know they put a lot of crosses in, and they'll bombard
04:42the box. They needed to go to a 4-4-1. And then the 3-3-3 on the side, fullback, winger,
04:508-6, whatever you call it, could take care of that. And I thought that the players on the pitch
04:57could do that, with Wisse as a striker and Bryn and Dams on the side. And then it was just to get
05:03a little bit of extra freshness in the game, to get Ego in as a striker, and Kevin, who could run
05:08behind instead of Dams, and then Jamun instead of Vitaly. And I had the next subs ready if we
05:14would have scored the 1-0 goal.
05:16Thomas, Sean Dijssel-Koeman said he felt his side played better when you had 11 men out.
05:23Satisfying, was it? And the way you played that second half, and as you mentioned already,
05:27the way the crowd can play a part in this, and you nullified that effect.
05:31Yeah, I'm very pleased with that. Also, I felt it was a well-deserved point, and I felt we were
05:39fairly in control the second half, as much as you can be when you're a little bit under pressure
05:45at times. So, very pleased. So, I thought, of course, we defended deep in spells, but I thought
05:50we were brave. Still wanted not only to break, but also have a few passes, so they would take
05:54the pressure away from us.
05:57How do you feel about the first clean sheet of the season?
06:05Yeah, I'm very happy. Of course, it's the first clean sheet of the season. I'm very happy that we
06:10maybe have adjusted a few things. We were almost free-floating going forward, scoring a lot of goals.
06:15But we have conceded too many. Even, I think, we've been hard done by. If you look at the
06:18chances and the xG, I think we conceded more than we're supposed to do, but it's still too much.
06:24So, we worked very hard on it, and especially Klaus Norgaard and Kevin O'Connor, two coaches,
06:29really worked with the players and the team, and of course, we highlighted it.
06:34And I think, as you said, Ethan Pinnock is a fantastic defender, and I think he played today
06:39up to his top level. So, very happy with that, and everyone in defence.
06:45You spoke about Nathan Collins and him actually stepping up when perhaps games aren't going your way.
06:50I mean, today is probably a very good example of that. How pleased were you with Nathan?
06:54I think Nathan is really growing, really, really growing as a player. I think he started the season
07:00very strong, then I think he had a little dip, maybe two or three, where I am a little bit after
07:04him in terms of his concentration levels, which is natural. You're young and you need to be on it.
07:09But he's back to the top level in the last couple of games.
07:13Brave on the ball, composed on the ball, great in the box in terms of blocking and winning hitters.
07:20And in another big performance, Keno's Potter from left-back again. How well did he do?
07:26I agree. Playing a left-winger as a full-back also when we're 10 against 11,
07:31and that's really, really... I can't praise him enough.
07:35Defend very well, but also give us an opportunity going forward. So he's actually ending,
07:40sprinting forward and having a top situation in the second half, where I know when he looks
07:44that back, he'll think, oh, no, I should have scored. I think it was a big chance.
07:48But that's the next level and I'm convinced that will come.
07:50And then finally from me, on Mark Flickern,
07:53there was a big hug at the end between you two. I mean, first-kick sheet of the season,
07:56how pleased were you with him?
07:57Yeah, so pleased for him. And we were laughing a little bit because it's
08:02funny when you're 10 against 11, but it just shows some of that solidness that we've been
08:10very well known for the first two seasons. For various reasons, we struggled a little
08:13bit with that last season. And for other reasons, we not struggled but conceded too many.
08:18So it's nice that we, yes, clean sheet, perfect. A lot of good things to work on going forward.
08:26Anything else? No, we'll leave it there then. Thank you very much, everybody.
08:29Take care.