00:01Do you feel like the void he's left behind will be filled by the new recruits with potentially a third
00:05midfield signing as well?
00:07I think players have come and gone through history here and you've got to evolve, you've got to find ways
00:13of moving forward,
00:14you've got to find ways of winning essentially. I know we've got a good midfield,
00:22we've brought in some really, really top players and really good characters, it's important.
00:29And we've got to evolve, we've got to evolve and we've got to improve.
00:32Do you feel that midfield signing is necessary for the Andrews?
00:36As I said before, we're trying to improve the squad all the time, we're working towards that.
00:42I think largely we've got a really good balance within the group.
00:46As it stands now, we've got some very good top midfielders to choose from,
00:52so I think we've improved that, as I said, since the start of the window until the end and we'll
00:59see what happens.
01:00As I said, we want to finish stronger as the window closes and we're working towards that.
01:04Chris.
01:07Hi Michael. When you came here in January, you had a very clear target about what you were hoping to
01:12try to do and you got top four.
01:15This season, as you mentioned before, is going to be very different to what you encountered last season.
01:20What does progress and success look like to you this season in terms of what you discussed with the board
01:26here and the people in charge?
01:27We want to evolve as a team. I think we've got a lot of younger players in the group.
01:34We want to help them move forward individually, collectively will move us in a good direction.
01:40I think the experiences that they've had, the habit and getting used to feeling what it's like to win a
01:47number of games,
01:48I think, is huge for players at this club to feel it and know what it takes, first of all,
01:55and what you've got to put into it to get out the other end.
02:01Of course, let's see what we can achieve.
02:05We want to be finishing in the Champions League again, without doubt.
02:09It's a challenge, it's a big challenge.
02:10There's a lot of teams fighting for that position.
02:13We managed to do that last season and we've got to aim to do the same
02:18and then keep pushing on through the season to see how it develops.
02:21We want to start strong, we want to get through the winter months,
02:24we want to be strong, we want to finish strong.
02:27It's putting it all together and then see where we end up.
02:30But we're going into it with a lot of encouragement this season.
02:33Jamie?
02:35Hi Michael.
02:36As a former very good midfielder and now the manager here,
02:39do you still view midfield as the most important area of a football team?
02:43I know you might say all positions are vital, but just in terms of winning games,
02:50how do you view midfield now?
02:52I think it's important.
02:55You could argue both ends of the pitch are, if not more, important.
03:00But the midfield connects the whole team together and has a big say on how the team performs,
03:05with without the ball and the character and the personality of the team.
03:09I think it's all components.
03:11Like you said, you've almost given the answer anyway when you asked,
03:14but both ends of the pitch is where games are won and lost.
03:19So that's huge as well, obviously.
03:22Can anything be won without a very good midfield?
03:26I think it gives you the foundation of the team.
03:28I think the foundation of the team is important to be consistent through one game,
03:35from start to finish, to be consistent over a period of time.
03:39I think you need a solid foundation through the middle of the team
03:41and try and putting it together and getting that balance.
03:47But certainly if you look at all the top teams over the years,
03:51all the great teams over the years, the spine of the team is really strong.
03:55So we're conscious of that and I think we've got a good spine of the team right now.
04:00We can keep improving as we go in different ways,
04:03coaching and helping the boys and developing them.
04:05I think we're in a good place.
04:08Paul and then Samuel.
04:09Michael, just on Marcus, he was one of the later ones to come back.
04:14Is he near full fitness?
04:16What kind of season can he have if he is on fire and he is fully focused?
04:22Yeah, he's come back really well, very well.
04:25I think the way it is now and not having so much time off really
04:30and kind of looking at three weeks, maybe just under three weeks, give or take.
04:36The boys don't lose an awful lot in that time.
04:39There's certainly the case of managing it coming back in now
04:41and being sensible now and there's a whole season for all the players to deal with.
04:47So in terms of teaming this week, going into next week as well,
04:51getting that balance right with all the group.
04:52But Marcus, he's came back particularly bright, particularly sharp as I've said
04:58and looks really good.
05:00Michael, I know there haven't been too many sales this summer,
05:02nobody was expecting a fire sale as such,
05:05but have any players expressed a wish to leave the deadline?
05:10So would you expect all these players to be here at least until January?
05:15Yeah, listen, I don't know what's going to come at us, you know.
05:17I don't know what's going to come at us from us.
05:20We can control what we can control.
05:23I'm really happy with the squad we've got so far
05:25and if not we want to improve it.
05:27And just take me back to your first pre-season as a coach of 2018.
05:31It was quite an eventful tour, there was a lot going on.
05:35Did you take any lessons learnt from that?
05:37Because it feels like this pre-season or World Cup year as well,
05:40it feels like there's been a lot of stability, a lot of good preparation,
05:44a lot of calm, even though you've not had a lot of players available.
05:46Yeah, I've been really happy with the structure.
05:50It would have been nice to have more players back early,
05:52but at the same time it was nice to see some of the boys go far in the World Cup
05:55as well.
05:57But yeah, certainly as a structure and as a flow and how the boys have come back,
06:02how they've trained, what this group looks like,
06:04I think we can be happy with a lot of that.
06:07We all know pre-season is one thing and once the start of the season gets going
06:12it's a whole different story, you know.
06:14So I think it just gives you the chance, the foundation to be able to move in
06:18and we've got to take big steps as the season goes to move forward.
06:23Hi Michael, Bruno Fernandes has been the subject of major interest this summer
06:27as he was last summer, it feels like this contract talk is ongoing,
06:30what's your view on his future at this club generally?
06:33And then also as a player, I think he turns 32, not too much in the distant future,
06:37but he plays all the time, will he be rotated do you think this season?
06:41What's your view on him as a player at this club?
06:44I've said quite a lot about Bruno, you know, he's been a big part of the team
06:49and the club over recent times and had a huge impact,
06:52so he'll continue to do that in terms of the games and how it comes,
06:57hopefully he stays fit and he's in good shape.
07:00But yeah, there's the element talking about the squad and the depth,
07:05as we go through the season and the waves and the momentum and keeping the boys in good form
07:11but keeping them fresh as well.
07:12So Bruno's part of that, you know, he's a big player for us,
07:15he's obviously our captain but there's still elements where we need to look after him.
07:18OK, last question for Richard.
07:20Hi Michael, you talked a bit about some of the midfielders that you've had,
07:25there have been a lot of midfielders who've moved around this summer,
07:27some for £100 million, just wondering partly what you make of the rise in price in general
07:32of midfielders but also when you see the prices you've paid for Tielemans and Santos,
07:37do you feel that you've maybe got players a bit cheaper compared to some of the others who've gone?
07:42Well there are certainly players that I've gone for and been more expensive,
07:46I think that's pretty obvious, we're delighted with the two that we've brought in,
07:51I think, and for the money of course but actually take that away,
07:55I'm delighted that we've got them, two fantastic players,
07:59give us really good balance, give us a lot within the team,
08:02offer us different things but certainly for the value that we feel we've got,
08:08I think we've done very well with them too especially.
08:11All right, thanks everyone. Thank you. Cheers, thanks.
08:19Cheers.
08:19Cheers.
08:21We'll see you next time
08:22You
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