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All the key lines from the managers' press conferences

4 Oct 2024
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Catch up with all the team news and main talking points from the Premier League managers’ media briefings.

Enzo Maresca (Chelsea) 

On whether Chelsea are title contenders: "I really don’t think we can compete with Manchester City or Arsenal because we are not ready. The reason is that City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal for five years. If you want to compete for big things you need that time."

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On suggestions he has two teams: "We do not have two teams. It is one team, only one team. If they play tonight [on Thursday] it does not mean they cannot play on Sunday, or the next Premier League game. In this moment it is like this, but the important thing is that [when you are] changing players, you can [still] see the identity of the team."

Pep Guardiola (Man City)

On his commitment to Man City: "I'm part of this club, it is deep inside of my bones and the best way to defend the club is winning games and doing my job as best as possible. We cannot misunderstand why I am here, I am the manager. I'm part of this club, not just the manager. I love this club and it will always be that way."

On fans organising a banner flyover saying in Catalan, "We want you to stay": "They have to bring me the bill. What can I say? Thank you so much. I fell in love since the first day I came here."

On Erling Haaland's availability to face Fulham: "Yes. Apart from Kevin [De Bruyne], Nathan [Ake], Oscar Bobb and Rodri, the rest are fine."

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On facing in-form Fulham: "The only record I see is the last six games. Since the first defeat against Man United, they didn't lose. They have a lot of weapons. I am concerned with what they do, not what they did in the past."

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

On the injury progress of captain Martin Odegaard: "Martin is very difficult. I expected him to still be with the [protective] boot and a lot of things, but he's working so hard and he's pushing. It is difficult to give a timeline."

On the chances of Ben White and Jurrien Timber playing against Southampton: "There's a decision to make this afternoon, whether to involve them or not. They are close, Takehiro Tomiyasu is close too. It's good news."

On Southampton's disappointing start: "From what I have seen, they deserve much more than what they have already. This is the Premier League and the small details are so important to get results."

Arne Slot (Liverpool)

On his players' reaction to being top: "We're Liverpool, players here are used to being top of the table. It would be weird if a player here has his head in the clouds. They are experienced [enough] to know we've only played six games."

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On how his players approach an early kick-off: "People talk about 12:30pm, we talk about difficult away games. If 12:30pm was a difficult time to perform then I am a stupid manager because I train every day at midday!"

On Crystal Palace's ability to take points off big clubs: "Palace got results with Chelsea and [Man] United, two top teams. Last season they finished strongly but lost players. They will do better during the season - but hopefully not tomorrow."

Unai Emery (Aston Villa) 

On Man United's poor start to the season: "They are a winning team. They have an experienced coach, experienced players. The club is usually a winning club. They are still winners, last year they won the FA Cup. They are not getting consistently good results but I respect them. I will prepare the match more than how I prepared the match against Bayern Munich."

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On over-achieving: "We are not favourites to be in the top seven of the Premier League. We want to be a contender and we are in the process of getting points. We will have to see where we are in January or February."

On injury news: "Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey are, for now, both doubts. I don’t know if they are going to be available. They are both so, so tired. I am not sure they will be 100 per cent fit for Sunday. We need every player so tomorrow we will see how they feel. Today, they are a doubt."

On why beating Bayern Munich isn't enough: "We enjoyed Wednesday a lot and we want to match it. But there’s no change in my mind. I have ambitions with this club since I arrived. Today it is the same and that is to be demanding in every match."

Eddie Howe (Newcastle)

On current injuries impacting his squad: "Alex Isak will not make the game. We hope he will be back with Callum Wilson for the game after the international break. Martin Dubravka took a nasty whack to the knee against Wimbledon, but it won't be serious."

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On Anthony Gordon's Goodison Park return: "Each time it will get slightly easier for Anthony. It will be emotional, he's human, and I think there will be lots of things going through him as he plays the game. He was excellent last week as he led the line with a really important performance."

Gary O'Neil (Wolves) 

On Brentford's run of scoring first-minute goals: "It's incredible. They are big on set plays and they use kick-off as a start of that. The lads have seen all three [goals], we know we need to be ready. The three goals in consecutive weeks heightens that awareness."

On Wolves' winless start: "It’s a 38-game race. We know that if we play well and perform to our potential, we have a good opportunity against Brentford. We can only control us. We’re ready for this weekend and then we will be ready for the game after that."

Ange Postecoglou (Spurs) 

On Son Heung-min's chances of playing: "Sonny is unlikely, he's pushing hard, but the turnaround might be too quick for him to be available at this stage."

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On Dominic Solanke's return to the England squad: "He has had to work awfully hard in his career. It is a salient point to all young players that the trajectory doesn't always go in a linear fashion when you start at big clubs. I've had him for a month, I have zero to do with his achievements to get into the England team, it is down to him. Even the way he has handled his move here, to a big club, with big expectations."

Marco Silva (Fulham) 

On taking the game to Man City: "City do things that aren't normal, but that's their quality. It is always better when you go into these matches with confidence, which we have. When we have the ball we must express ourselves."

On Raul Jimenez taking the match-winning penalty at Nottingham Forest without approval: "It is not going to happen again. Has Raul apologised? Yes. He had to, because he knows the rules and how important discipline is. That type of situation is clear, it’s decided before the match."

On how Fulham must combat the champions: "They have many strengths and everyone recognises their quality. They have many ways to create the gaps and they can take the ball from any team."

Thomas Frank (Brentford)

On claiming a new record: "We spoke to our guys at Matthew [Benham's] company and analysed over one million games. No team has scored three games in a row [in the first minute]. It's a nice one - but next time we do it, we need to win the game."

On captain Christian Norgaard: "Christian is available and he will probably start. Rico Henry trained with the team today which is a positive. It’s good to see him there. But Man Utd (Brentford's first game after the international break) will be too soon for him."

On injured Yoane Wissa's progress: "He is progressing well, he was running on the grass, so that's good, too."

Andoni Iraola (AFC Bournemouth) 

On how in-form forward Antoine Semenyo can improve: "He has to show his form can be more consistent and he can add more than the goals as well, focus on many more things. He has to be a more complete player to be a better player, but he is in a good moment for sure."

On Evanilson's first Bournemouth goal: "I think he is relieved after the goal. He is very important for us. He was playing well but after the penalty miss [against Chelsea] he felt bad. When he scored, you could see his reaction and his team-mates."

On missing Tyler Adams: "I think Tyler will not be fit for the game. He's going to train fully with the team during the international break but he won't be involved in the game tomorrow. Apart from him, everyone is available and I think we are in a good place."

Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton)

On a triple boost, but Joao Pedro blow: "The positive things are Brajan Gruda and Solly March trained really well this week, so they might be an option as is James Milner. Joel Veltman is back in the squad. The long-term injuries are Matt O’Riley, Joao Pedro and Jan Paul van Hecke."

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On bouncing back from defeat at Chelsea: "I think that you're honest to yourself. We discussed with the team about this and we're trying to find solutions and to show a reaction on Sunday. I was responsible for the match plan - and the match plan was not good enough."

On his admiration for Ange Postecoglou: "I respect him a lot. The identity of Tottenham [Hotspur] and the style of play is impressive, but also, as a person, he's very humble, very polite, and I'm really looking forward to meeting him and competing against him."

Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace) 

On Adam Wharton's injury: "It's not the best situation. We have to manage it. He had a great game at Everton and a very good training week. We know his situation and we have to look after him. It’s day to day with his injury but our great medical department are treating him very well."

On whether his players are lacking confidence: "I'm not worried about the confidence. I'm worried about other things in the world, like the election in Austria, right-wing populism is becoming a trend in the world, but the confidence in the squad is not something I'm worried about."

On Palace's winless start: "We are not in the best shape, but what gives me confidence is that we are at the beginning of the season. Everyone is working hard to get into the best shape." 

Erik ten Hag (Manchester United) 

On the importance of winning at Villa Park: "I’m not thinking about such issues because that is not a topic. We are in there together – the ownership, the leadership team, the staff. I appointed a new staff, we bought, again, new young players and we have to integrate them."

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On positives and negatives from Porto: "This team has the belief that they don't give up. They have a strong mentality but in some other parts they have to step up. If you want to win trophies in some areas we have to improve."

On Kobbie Mainoo: "He didn't make the squad [against Porto] - it was too big a risk. We have to wait and we have to see if he can play on Sunday, if he's fit enough to start or be on the bench."

Sean Dyche (Everton)

On Dwight McNeil's fantastic form in a new role: "So far he has done very well and it looks like he is enjoying it. He’s affected himself. It’s not just us who’ve affected him - changing position was something we’ve talked about a lot. So far, it’s been productive."

On what to expect from Newcastle. "They have some good individuals. Our record against them was good last season and there's no reason why we can't replicate that."

Russell Martin (Southampton)

On coping with questions over his position: "I don't own a tin hat, so I think you have to accept everything as a manager. I genuinely don't listen to very much of it. I don't really pay any attention to any of that. I didn't last year. The people whose opinions matter are my bosses and the owners of the club and the people inside that I work with every day."

On his own mindset after a winless start: "I think it's about having conviction in what you do. It's about having the strength of character to ignore the noise and stay on path."

Julen Lopetegui (West Ham) 

On sticking together after a tough start:  "Our job in football is to live with pressure - it is normal, because we want to win. Football is a collective game, and we want everyone to do their best for the whole team. The only way I know for a team to be successful is if everyone is together, and it’s important that everyone knows they have a role to play."

Steve Cooper (Leicester)

On the season so far: "We’re very much trying to become a Premier League team again. It’s a Premier League club in every way, shape or form, we know that, and the recent history tells you that. But at this moment, we have to make sure we deliver a Premier League team performance."

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On Hamza Choudhury's training ground injury: "It’s a really unfortunate situation. It was just a normal duel, no foul or anything like that, and unfortunately his shoulder ended up on the wrong side of an awkward position. Jannik Vestergaard is training fully, though.

On expecting this tough period: "Unless you’re finishing eighth or higher, everybody goes through a spell of not a lot of points. That’s the nature of the Premier League. If ours is now, I hope it is coming to an end."

Kieran McKenna (Ipswich) 

On injury doubts: "We have a got a few being assessed before Saturday. There’s a chance that there will be one or two changes to the team, but some of them are going to be pretty late calls."

On the poor home form of West Ham: "They've got a new manager, two new centre-halves, a new right-back in Aaron Wan-Bissaka, they're integrating a lot of other new players as well. So they're still building towards what they want to be. We have a lot of respect for them."

On Kalvin Phillips returning to the London Stadium: "I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but I’m sure he would’ve liked to have played a little bit more."

Nuno Espirito Santo (Nott'm Forest)

On his plans to contain Cole Palmer: "We cannot ignore him but the game plan is not based on one player. Chelsea are much more than individual players. They have a very good idea of football and the way they create possession. If we can in some way prevent the good players from putting the balls in the right spaces then we are doing good work. I insist that I spoke with the team about Chelsea, this is what we have to focus on."

See: Latest Premier League injuries

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