On Liverpool’s strategy in terms of trying to score from corners…
To be fair, the idea and the plan was to have inswingers already in the first half, but there is a bit of freedom also for players to take an outswinger if they think that’s better or that they prefer that. The work that we put in is that we’ve trained a lot, we’ve had a lot of meetings about it, we try every single time to improve the details and I think it’s normal for a coaching staff that’s only for nine or 10 months with that team that it doesn’t come from the first week.
I always say that if I am analysing an opponent, if they have their set-pieces perfect I know the manager is already there for a long time because normally you start with bringing the ball out from the back and how to defend and all these kind of things, and the end of that process is set-pieces. And I think Arsenal are a great example of that, where Mikel [Arteta] has worked so long and they are so good in all different phases of the game and now they have become world-class at set-pieces.
On whether the way the Reds pressed changed after half-time…
I don’t think we had to press that much because the goalkeeper mostly kicked the ball long, but the way we press, we want it that the one who is closest to the ball needs to press – and especially if we need a goal. That could sometimes mean it is 4-2-4 and sometimes it is the winger and full-back jumps. It’s just getting rhythm into the game because it’s quite difficult for us to get rhythm and momentum into the game because most teams we are facing, every time there is a throw-in they are taking one-and-a-half minutes to take it. So, the only thing we can do about it is keep the ball longer and there is where I think we can and have to improve. But it is also nice that there are a lot of things to improve if we are 13 points clear at the moment.
On whether he will need to ‘keep the players focused’ in the coming week…
I have to wait and see because I haven’t experienced it here yet but what I know from my time with Feyenoord is that of course there is a lot of noise and everybody is very excited, but at our training ground we are just focused on the training sessions we do and trying to prepare in the best possible way for Tottenham, which is a team where all the injuries are coming back and are a team that deserves our full attention. The boys also have one or two days off during this week because we’ve planned that already a long time ago and hopefully they will enjoy some time with their loved ones and be fully focused when we are back together to work towards Tottenham.
On Alexander-Arnold’s future…
The headline should be today the goal he scored and not about his contract. But what I can say is it would be ridiculous if someone argues his commitment for this club because the work-rate he put in to be back today and make such an important goal, and all the work he has done for this club in all these years he is here, no-one – in my opinion – can argue his commitment to this club. But let the headlines be [about] his great goal and not his contract situation.
