Official post match
comment
'At the end of the day
Stoke deserved to win'
On his side’s
performance…
“It was a game where we had a lot of possession. The team we played
defended very well and were well organised. We were not sharp
enough to create the chances and conceded two goals on two
throw-ins. They fought for every ball and they waited for their
set-pieces. In the end Stoke won because we didn’t create enough
chances to score."
On preparing for Delap's throw-ins…
“We had a plan to deal with the throw-ins; we had worked on it. I
am not sure the first one was touched by anybody. They fly into the
box and it is difficult with 20 people in there. That sort of thing
is not our greatest strength. We were punished and I believe we
were unlucky as well."
On a traditional English match…
“People who love the traditional English game must be happy because
they got what they like today. It was a traditional game with a lot
of fight and commitment. At the end of the day Stoke deserved to
win the game.”
On a tough schedule…
“I believe we tried very hard and I think Stoke are sharp at the
moment and we looked jaded physically. At the moment we play a lot
games and we suffer a little a bit because of that. It isn’t
confidence but we gave a lot on Wednesday. We play again in midweek
and that is why, in the repetition of games, if you don’t score
first you suffer."
On Van Persie's dismissal…
“I think that the red card was very, very harsh. If you get [Andy]
Griffin without a yellow card today and Robin with a red, then I
have to review my rulebook. He shouldn’t have done it but I don’t
think it was a red card.”
On an array of injuries…
“We have very bad injuries to Adebayor and Walcott, and there is
Sagna. One or two have knocks as well. It is the kind of game we
played today and when you are a little bit short on sharpness, you
are less agile and get out of tackles less quickly.”
