Speaking to ESPN, the Italian coach addressed the absence of captain Jordan Henderson, who remained on the bench. "He felt his hamstring during training. We have to protect the player. I think he’ll recover in time for Thursday. Henderson really wanted to be with the team, which is why he travelled with us."
In the closing stages, Mika Godts came on as a substitute and made an immediate impact with his runs in behind. "Godts is an important player. Especially on the wings, we have limited options. I do think Chuba Akpom is doing well in a position that’s not natural for him. From the start of the season, we’ve known where our strengths and limitations lie."
Not angry
Finally, the coach hinted that he kept his composure in the dressing room after the match. "No, I’m not angry. What I am good at is staying realistic. After the match against PSV at home, people started calling us title contenders. But I stayed calm back then too. I remain steady in both good and bad times."
