Presser Watch | Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola speak ahead of Gameweek 5

09/13/2019

After a two week long international break, the Premier League is back and with it all the drama that the managers bring to it. It should be a cracking weekend, and the managers are out in full-flow for the pre-match press-conferences, so read everything they had to say, plus much more.

Tottenham

Tottenham walk into yet another London derby on yet another winless run, they’ve managed just one win in their four league matches, and an array of injury concerns. They’ve lost summer signing Giovani Lo Celso for at least the next six weeks during the international break but should see Tanguy Ndombele come back into the team after missing out on the North London derby. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s main talking points were about the summer transfer window and how the team affected by all the rumours.

“Now, for sure, it was so important to be refocused. The conversation today altogether now is the squad we are going to have until January, when the rumours will appear again and different situation. It was very good to talk today for nearly one hour and refocus again on our objective. To be clear in our minds, to think that the most important is the collective and start to put outside individual situations, all together again and try to create a dynamic and be strong and starting winning games. That’s the most important thing for us now.”

Manchester United

Manchester United face Leicester City in one of the more exciting games this weekend, and with Paul Pogba stepping out of the French national team with an injury, Solskjaer has confirmed that the Frenchman will miss the game. He goes on to talk about David De Gea, Harry Maguire and even Daniel James in his pre-match press conference.

"Paul won't be fit unless he has had a miraculous recovery overnight. He has not been ready to train 100%. I can't promise Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jesse Lingard will be available either.

"Leicester is always a tough game, and as a team, and as a club they are wanting to push into the top four. They've got good players, a proven top manager and Brendan's teams always play with football and we've got to play well to get the three points. I think Harry has been brilliant.

“He's come into the dressing room as a leader and I'm sure he's looking forward to playing against his old team. That's why we know so much about Leicester because we have been watching him. He's gonna be a big part of the future of this club. Leicester didn't want lose him."

Chelsea

Frank Lampard and his men will have to visit the Molineux for their next battle and given that its Wolves, it’s far from an easy test. Both sides have had inconsistent starts to the season and will be looking to improve their form going forward, although for Chelsea the pressure is on. Just one win in their last four Premier League games does not bode well for the Blues.

"Wolves are a very good team, got a lot of credit last year and a good way of playing. Three at the back and very good going forward. They defend well and it’s a difficult atmosphere in the stadium. I am very impressed by Nuno, looking from the outside and the way that he shows himself in the media and the unity they have. They have a style they believe in and I like the way he operates."

On Antonio Rudiger and Callum Hudson-Odoi: "Callum will play for the U23s along with Reece James. He has been training for a while but there are some issues to make sure that he’s okay. It will be great to see that. James, not as long out, but he needs games. I am pleased. Rudiger is fit. It’s a choice for myself, but he will have an important role. We have missed him as we have with a few more front line players. It is important in a team. I don’t want a young team for the sake of it. He can be influential. He is ready to take on those roles."

Liverpool

"To win the Champions League, we didn't change a lot of things. We had to talk about it but that is part of winning something. The boys are still the same, a good bunch of footballers and they will show it again tomorrow. Newcastle will fight like crazy. If you want to ask about Newcastle, I will answer. They did a lot of really good stuff against Tottenham. The last home game was Arsenal and we needed the atmosphere. Another one at 12:30 and we can do something."

Klopp on Liverpool's home record: "We don't think about it. We know as well, records are there to be broken. Each team could have done it but we were mostly better and deserved it. Only thing I'm concerned about is how we can be in a better mood and shape than Arsenal. That was a high level. We have to make sure they day [the record ends] is far away in the future. We can only give everything tomorrow. We have a chance to win, so we must do it."

Manchester City

"Leroy Sane's back before the end of the season. December, January, February could be perfect. The surgeon told me it was perfect. He’s here with us, making his rehabilitation. Hopefully, he comes back well and we’ll see. Ilkay Gundogan had a stomach problem - he trained really good the last few days. Same with Gabriel Jesus. Benjamin Mendy is good. His knee is reacting well so hopefully in the next few games. We want to be careful and sure when he starts to play.

On Norwich: "They destroyed the Championship, incredible courage, really impressed, lot of players inside the wingers. Pukki is in top form, they have a good mentality, team spirit. I saw they are almost the same squad, I’ve never been there but the atmosphere is incredible, a tight narrow pitch and after the break it’s always a mystery. Pukki always the guy who scores goals can do it anywhere, always you sway the champ is different to the Premier League but when the quality is there, he’s incredible with movements in behind, an incredible finisher.”

Arsenal

Two wins, a draw and a loss to their name does see the North London giants sit just inside the top five based solely on goal difference. But the season has a long way to go, which does mean that Arsenal have some ground to make up, and manager Unai Emery has a lot of work to do on his backline. But reports during the international have revealed that the club have welcomed back three key defensive stars back into training, which will be a big boost for the club.

"We can improve in all situations, offensively and defensively. We will have more options in the next weeks. I am optimistic we can work and we can have players to improve in all things defence and attack.

"Kieran Tierney and Bellerin are closer to us but need to continue working and taking training with us so they can feel very comfortable to play with us. No target date for them. It depends on their progress in the next weeks. Maybe also we can decide for them to play in the U23s, maybe they can take confidence, better rhythm and after be ready to play with us 100%.

"We need to look at the next steps in each training and also if we decide to play with U23s. They did this week the first time training normally with us. We want the next week to take the normality training with us. “After that week we can decide how they are to start playing with the U23s and with us.”