Leighton Baines on Everton 2-0 FA Cup win over Peterborough and Dyche sacking
09/01/2025
Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK
09/01/2025
Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00How was the experience in Manchester?
00:14It was good, yeah, it was different, obviously similar to what I do but in a different context.
00:21I didn't want to take the first team but it was a hectic day but I actually enjoyed it.
00:27What did you think of what you got from the players tonight as well?
00:30I thought their application was brilliant, I thought they understood that,
00:33we spoke to them before the game.
00:36Losing managers and coaches isn't what anyone wants really,
00:39and that normally means that something hasn't gone quite right.
00:42That's never on one person, it's on a lot of people that are involved in it.
00:46The players knew they had to try and show something in terms of a response to it,
00:50and they did, they tried to play with energy and do the right things,
00:54and they played against a team who likes to play a lot of football as well,
00:57and it was a nice challenge.
00:59I've never experienced or reported on a manager losing his job hours before kick-off
01:03in an FA Cup tie-ticket, and you've never been in that situation yourself either,
01:07so how difficult a day has it been for everyone connected with the club?
01:10Like I said, definitely difficult because a manager losing his job isn't good,
01:15and it normally follows a difficult period, not just a difficult day,
01:20and there has been that.
01:22But I think within all of that there's definitely now got to be hope and optimism,
01:26that's something we spoke about today, things are changing,
01:30the football club, the ownership, the stadium and things that are being talked about.
01:34The managers had to leave, and that's not what anyone wants,
01:38but there'll be a new manager coming in, and that brings opportunity.
01:42How do you feel about Sean going, and when did you and Seamus know you'd be taking charge?
01:47Today, I was working at Finch Farm this morning,
01:51and then got asked to come over to the hotel.
01:54And while you went with the side that Sean had picked initially,
01:58what did you tweak tonight, if anything?
02:00Just a little bit around the structure, the team was picked and the shape was very similar,
02:06I think probably just some of the messages really, more than anything.
02:10Do you think you'll be in charge for the villa game as well,
02:12or are you expecting an appointment tonight?
02:14Don't know, honestly, I've been a mad day.
02:17What about yourself, are you thinking of putting yourself forward for the job?
02:20I'm not now, I think I'm happy to help in whatever way that I can,
02:24and I'm really, really proud that I got to help out today,
02:28and support the football club, which is what we love to do.
02:32I'm made up that I got to do that, I don't know what happens next at the minute,
02:36everything moved that quick today!
02:38I'll have to ask you about David Moyes,
02:41we're hearing there's going to be talks taking place and the possibility of him returning,
02:44how would you feel about David coming back to the club, how big a step would that be?
02:47Again, I don't know, I don't want to get too dragged into discussing
02:53who the right man is and all the rest of it,
02:56what I can do is speak to David Moyes, because I spoke,
02:59because I played for him and he was a great coach to play for, he's a good man,
03:03but as far as who's the right man for the job and all that,
03:07I don't want to get dragged into all that.
03:09What do you feel the club needs at the moment?
03:12Good question, isn't it?
03:16I think the football club's in a situation where it definitely wants some stability,
03:20and I think that's been the message from the owners when they've come in,
03:23I don't think it's going to be off the bat boatloads of money and crazy things happening,
03:29I think it's stability, and everyone would gladly accept that at the moment,
03:34I think we've been through a lot over the last few years,
03:37and more, whether it's managerial changes and other things that have happened,
03:41so I think that and progress, and then let's see where that takes us.
03:46What do the players need as well?
03:49I'm just thinking, again, not a massive amount of chances tonight,
03:53we've spoken about the problems in the final third,
03:56so what is it that this group of players need to bring the best out of it?
04:01Probably that again, some consistent ideas around how to do that,
04:07whatever they are and whatever coaches are working with them,
04:12probably just some support, with some ideas around that in that area of the pitch.
04:19Paul?
04:27Not loads, no. They obviously looked bad, didn't they?
04:32Well, you've seen him go off to the other side of the pitch,
04:36and then we weren't sure if he'd go to hospital or not, but he hasn't,
04:40because hopefully it's not...
04:42We don't know at the moment the extent of it, other than it's a lower leg injury,
04:46but he's still here, and he hasn't been taken to hospital,
04:49so I took that as a good sign.
04:52Time for a couple more.
04:55Sorry, Chris, you've got the mic.
04:57Did you speak to Sean when you got asked to come to the hotel,
05:01and did he say anything about the team or how he was feeling after?
05:05No, I haven't spoken to anyone other than probably the drive over to the hotel,
05:10I spoke to my missus and that was about it,
05:12she didn't tell me nothing about the team or anything.
05:19Yeah, I thought he was brilliant.
05:22It's a great moment for us, that as a football club,
05:25and the coaches who've worked with Addison through the academy,
05:28to see him getting this exposure to the first team is sort of why we all go to work,
05:32so it's brilliant to see that.
05:34I thought his performance was really good today,
05:36I thought there were a few other lads as well who haven't played a lot of football recently
05:41who came in and done a really good job.
05:43Last one, Simeone.
05:45What did he make of the timing of the announcement?
05:48Was it disrespectful to Sean in any way?
05:50I don't know, I'd say...
05:53I've literally been in a bit of a whirlwind today,
05:56from doing the job that I normally do to starting across to the hotel,
06:00getting in front of the players and addressing the players,
06:03getting across here and coaching the game,
06:05so, yeah, maybe tonight when I get home I'll take stock of things a little bit more.
06:11Right, folks, thank you.
06:13Congratulations.