JK: I think the situations… the two offsides I asked, I didn’t see but our analysts said yeah it was really close with Mo I think was the foot, but we are used to it with armpits and club badges so if we are told then obviously it is offside. The other one with Sadio was clear so yeah. The penalty, it is how it is, I think the decisions were right, yes.
DK: You thought the decisions were right, well Jordan Henderson just said some of the Brighton players agreed that it wasn’t a penalty…
JK: Yeah but the ref, look… you try to create again a headline, because that is how it is. If I said now it was not, “but ask…”, the ref whistled. Don’t look like this. You try, always, all the time, but today I say it was not a penalty but you are not happy with that answer. What do you want to hear? Give the answers yourself.
DK: I was just telling you what your players said…
JK: Yeah the players were close but I said it was a penalty because the referee whistled it after watching it [on the screen].
DK: So you agree with that decision. In terms of the performance today, what did you think?
JK: Very good, I could not be more proud of the boys what they put out here today. What we said before the game, what a possession team Brighton is, I could see the boys played how they had to play. The first half an hour we struggled a little bit with the last line with their balls in behind because we didn’t drop in the right moment. We got that sorted in the first half already. Second half we had no problems with that at all but we had problems with energy so we had to sit back a bit deeper and that’s how the situation happened. But the situation around the goals we scored were brilliant. Even if they were disallowed the situations were brilliant. Mo’s goal was a brilliant goal, Sadio’s header was outstanding. Some other situations, the goal we scored was really cool so it was all good but it is just tough times, that is how it is.
DK: You warned us about Connolly before the game, you said he would cause some problems. He did get behind through the lines…
JK: Only two opportunities to defend that, you have to avoid the pass or you have to drop in the right moment because he is running through the gaps so it is quite difficult. We spoke before the game, the last line is not settled together but that is normal so sometimes you have to learn in the game. The boys did that, that was really good. Nat Phillips played an exceptional game so that is all good. In football you need a little bit of luck to win a tough away game but that didn’t happen today so we had a draw.
DK: Jota’s scoring run keeps going, he’s slotted in so brilliantly
JK: It was a good goal. I thought the front three played really good together. It worked out really good.
DK: Mo Salah didn’t look too happy to be coming off early, I assume you are planning ahead for that. What’s the information with James Milner?
JK: On a day when Mo Salah is smiling when he leaves the pitch then I know something is wrong. So I get it 100 per cent. He had Covid, was out for 10-12 days, played 60 minutes, three days later plays again so we just have to be careful, he doesn’t like that I know it, but that’s it.
DK: And James Milner, hamstring is it?
JK: Yeah congratulations.
DK: Me personally?
JK: No but you work for them. Yeah, hamstring. Surprise. And they had injuries as well, because it is a tough time. But ask Chris Wilder how we can avoid that.
DK: Maybe you are firing at the wrong target
JK: Sorry?
DK: Maybe you are firing at the wrong target, because we are broadcasters. We work within the Premier League rules and the Premier League makes the rules. That’s the Premier League clubs. So shouldn’t you be talking to the chief executives…
JK: I don’t know how often I have to say it…you picked the 12:30 kick offs. You. Not you personally, but you did it, didn’t you? Between now and December, the New Year, there is one more Wednesday and then Saturday 12:30.
DK: But when you say “you picked the 12:30” the Premier League clubs chose that slot. That is the reason that slot is there…
JK: I have said it now a couple of times these are difficult times.
DK: Indeed they are difficult times, the stadiums are empty of course it is difficult times. The broadcasters are supporting the game…
JK: We have to… yeah [they are]. If you play at 3 o clock, or 5:30, it is exactly the same.
DK: But that has different ramifications. You should be going, your chief executives should be going with the other chief executives and having that discussion. If you come down here and just have a go at the broadcasters it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not going to change anything.
JK: I am not having a go at the broadcasters I am just saying it how it is.
DK: You said it was criminal…
JK: Wednesday to Saturday 12:30 is really, really dangerous for the players.
DK: You also said broadcasters don’t care and that’s the problem. It isn’t the problem, the problem is the slots…
JK: Why did you pick us against Crystal Palace if you care?
DK: I didn’t pick it. Every pick is agreed by the Premier League.
JK: Can I say one more time because it is such a special season you obviously rely on things we agreed in another time.
DK: No, no, no
JK: Yes you did.
DK: No, if it was all about player welfare why did the Premier League clubs block the five player rule?
JK: Oh, because that is very interesting now. When we had the talk between the managers a week ago, it was 15-5 if not 16-4 for five subs, since then nothing happened. You need 14 votes but Chris Wilder or whoever says constantly I am selfish. I think all the things he said showed that he is selfish too. But it was a similar situation for me at Mainz and it was all about staying in the league. If you can do five subs in a game like this it is not for tactical reasons. For example, today if I had five subs I would have taken off Robbo 100 per cent and bring Tsimikas. To save Robbo, not to make our game better or whatever. Just to save him. That is the situation. It is not about changing tactics or the system. It is not like this. It is not just my players who have the problem. From now on until December we will see what happens.
DK: We agree with you and can understand what you are saying. But you are actually going about it in a strange way. You are attacking the broadcaster instead of getting the support you need in the Premier League meeting.
JK: I’m sure 100% you will get praise from this interview for getting it stuck on him. What I want to say is I only go for broadcasters because of the Wednesday to Saturday 12:30. Only seven managers have a similar problem and they all agree. Jose said now I should stop doing it and wanted to stop doing it because it doesn’t help. The problem is we have a contract we signed the contract. Our CEOs, the shareholders whatever did that. In this season it’s a bigger problem because of no pre-season, because of the intensity and all this kind of stuff. When I have that slot that is when I say it is not okay. I don’t want to be selfish but have a look at Liverpool. Look who else had this slot three times. No one, so of course it is a problem for me. It is a problem for me to pick a team.
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