00:00Deadline day happened the other day, window now closed, just wondering how do you feel
00:05about the window generally and what United were able to do? Do you feel you're left a
00:09little left back?
00:13We went into the window, I think I've said it, we wanted to come out stronger from the
00:20group that we had last season and we've definitely added to that. I think we've done a lot of
00:27good work in that respect and the situation is what it is in terms of finances and what
00:32we can work with and what we're trying to get the most of. Certainly the players that
00:37we've brought into the group I'm absolutely delighted with and I think we've done some
00:42really good business there and for the quality and the level of player that we've got, I'm
00:46really, really happy with that. You can always look at it and there's other things you can
00:51do or could have done, possibly could have done, some things come available, some don't,
00:55that's just part of evolving the group and trying to push all the time. We obviously
01:03had certain things that we needed to fill and try and improve the group and largely I think
01:08we're in a good place, we've got a pretty good balance within the whole squad, dynamic
01:14strengths are what we might need in certain games. We've got players that are flexible as
01:21well throughout the whole team that can play in different positions as and when and if
01:25we need it. I think as you go through the season you always need that. Largely pretty happy.
01:33Can I ask you about another play in terms of Benjamin Sheshko, he scored the winner in this fixture
01:37against Everton last season, he's obviously missed a lot of football in terms of pre-season.
01:41I just wonder how has he been over the summer managing that shin injury and how raring is
01:47he to start getting more minutes into that?
01:49Yeah, Ben's improving, he's improving his fitness all the time, he had some time off, which
01:57was important that we give him the time to make sure it was right moving forward and no setbacks.
02:04You can never guarantee that but give us and Ben himself the chance to stay fit for as long
02:10as possible. He made big strides last season and he's still young, he's still adapting to
02:19a point and learning and developing here so there's loads more to come from Ben. Just being
02:24patient with him really and looking after him as well and letting him grow into the season.
02:29But really happy with how he's come back so I'm looking forward to seeing him on the
02:33pitch a little bit more.
02:37Michael, you mentioned about balance before, you have brought in three midfield players.
02:42Is it as straightforward as saying whichever game suits two or three of those players they
02:50will play? Because a lot of people from the outside might look at it and think you spent
02:5470 million on Balaba so he's got to play and then Tielemans fits in with Bruno so they've
03:00got to play and that kind of, Kobe played really well at the weekend. How does it work in terms
03:06of the actual balance and picking who plays in each game?
03:09It sounds like you're in our coach's office trying to pick a team. No, it's not, listen I hope everyone
03:17stays fit and 100% available all through the season but we're not just putting a squad together.
03:24for one game on Sunday. We need a squad that's going to take us through the whole season.
03:29And to have them options, sometimes it's to change during the game, sometimes it's maybe game to game,
03:34sometimes it's you play every three, four days. There's a whole picture in there that we need to balance and
03:41we need to get that right.
03:43And whoever plays in there, I'm talking about adding to the squad and feeling that we've got different partnerships and
03:51combinations that we can rely on.
03:52So it's certainly not just week by week, it's the longer term and what we're going to need to get
03:58us through the season with unfortunate injuries or suspensions or whatever may come.
04:01We've got to be able to get through that and stay strong. And as it stands at the moment, we've
04:08got a really strong group and hopefully everyone stays fit for as long as possible.
04:12You mentioned about finances in your previous answer. Some people in a summer where Tottenham and Man City and Chelsea
04:22and clubs have spent a lot of money.
04:25People might say, why is the Manchester United manager talking about finances and restrictions in terms of who you can
04:32bring in?
04:33I didn't say restrictions, I'm just saying that is the situation that we have. I'm not talking about the amount.
04:39I think whatever the amount is, you want to make the most of it and whatever you spend, you want
04:43to make the most of it.
04:44And I think for what we've spent, we've certainly made the most of it without a shadow of a doubt
04:49and if not even more than that because of the plays that we've brought in.
04:54I only focus on ourselves and what we can do and maximising everything we can do and I think we've
05:00done that.
05:02Hi Michael, just following on from what you said you need the squad to take you through the whole season.
05:06Do you think you have enough depth in all areas to do that? Because I ask that because it does
05:10seem some external concerns.
05:12Left backs we mentioned, maybe central striker, there isn't enough in those areas to help you through the season and
05:18deal with whatever setbacks you may have.
05:20I just think that's what squad's ever the perfect squad. You've always got to find ways of adapting and when
05:29you're building and trying to push to going through a period where we're trying to get to the top, that's
05:36the ultimate goal.
05:38You've got to make steps. It's not going to be one hit where everything is...
05:44I'm not just talking about players individually, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the whole thing of improving
05:50as a group, improving as a squad.
05:51It's not just an instant fix and you finish top of the league and you stay there.
05:57There's a whole kind of road that we've got to go down with that and making sure that we keep
06:02improving.
06:04And in the end, we want to be getting to where we want to be.
06:10There's always things, some things that you might suggest, sometimes it's something that we keep to ourselves, but there's always
06:16things that we're looking at and trying to improve.
06:19And improve players and individual players in the units within the team to make the team and the squad better.
06:24Can I ask about Josh Reza. Obviously, there was a late bit from Everton for him.
06:28There was speculation throughout the window. I think a lot of people expect him to have left by now.
06:33Do you see him as an important member of the squad? Is he happy? Will he be involved this weekend?
06:36Yeah, for sure, Josh is important. I think, again, it's the team, the squad, the depth, the whole season.
06:46Josh is happy here and I have a really good relationship with Josh.
06:50He wants to play more than he has done and that's the good, the healthy competition for places.
06:57A lot of games are coming up, even in the next couple of weeks.
07:00We've got the kind of shorter period between games and so, yeah, for sure, Josh can do some really, really
07:09top things.
07:11I've seen it myself and I know he can do that and I'm looking forward to him doing that a
07:15little bit more often for us.
07:17Can I ask you about Patrick Dogu? Predominantly, you've used him as a left winger or almost exclusively used him
07:22as a left winger during your time in charge.
07:24Obviously, previously in his career he has played at left back, which is not something you've done as much.
07:30Is there a reason for that? Is there something that you need to see in Patrick that you've not seen
07:34so far?
07:35Do you see him longer term in that position? How do you see his development?
07:39He can certainly play there, he has done, without doubt. I'm not sitting here saying he can't do that.
07:44It's just the way we've been since I've been here. He actually has been injured, unfortunately, for some time.
07:54You could almost argue that he played three or four times for us last season.
07:58For me, he's almost like a new player to have. He's almost like a new signing in some ways because
08:04he's added so much to the group.
08:06Again, that group where he can play, he's played off the right for Denmark, scored a great goal in the
08:13summer playing.
08:15Off the right in a forward position, he can play left back. He's that type where he can do a
08:19number of things.
08:22I'm certainly not saying he can't do that at all. It's something he can. We just haven't had to explore
08:27that.
08:27At some point, we might have to. At some point, he might do that. You can do that absolutely no
08:31problem.
08:31There are times in training when he does it.
08:35He's only young, being such a young age and having the attributes that he's got. We've just got to keep
08:42trying to get the most out of him.
08:43What do you expect from Everton? They've had a dramatic week off the field with the transfer window and they've
08:50had a decent start on the field to the season as well.
08:52What do you make of the shape that they're in?
08:56To be honest, however long I've been going to Everton, I know it was good as before, every single game
09:03has been as tough as they come.
09:06We've had some good results, we've had some not so good results. Last year epitomises how hard it was and
09:13how much we had to give to get the results.
09:18Whatever position they're in, where they are in the league, historically, whenever they've gone there, it's been tough, whatever state
09:25they're in.
09:26David's a terrific manager and they've got a good squad. They've got some talent in that group and some very,
09:33very good attacking players as well.
09:35We're expecting as tough a game as it gets when we go there and we'll prepare for that.
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