Kris is a young player with great potential and we have been monitoring his progress over the last couple of years. |
Losing Nacho was really disappointing because we felt he could get in behind Hearts and cause them trouble, ... He is out of the Inter game now and that is another disappointment. |
Losing Nacho was really disappointing because we felt he could get in behind Hearts and cause them trouble. He is out of the Inter game now and that is another disappointment. |
Making the last 16 was a great achievement, but it isn't enough. We're not going to look at where we are and think we've done well and that we should be satisfied to leave it at that. We want very much to progress to the quarter-finals of the tournament. |
Marvin had a hectic schedule with international games and I didn't want to see him burnt out, |
My answer is to fight, fight, fight until we pull through, ... We have done it before and I'm confident we will do so again. |
My focus is totally on this game and that is my only concern. But it is only right that the club should be looking to try to get things sorted for next season. We made the decision [about McLeish leaving] a few weeks ago and the club is trying to look ahead. But that doesn't distract me, nor does it concern me. My focus is totally on Villarreal. |
Neither did any training yesterday and they won't do any contact stuff today, ... but we are hopeful they'll be available. |
Oh, that was crucial, ... Hearts have had a terrific start and full credit to them. It will be a huge battle next week. We had hoped today to continue the good work from the Porto match, but maybe the legs weren't quite there to see the same tactics through again. It's been a tough week. |
On the question of playing three at the back, it's something we haven't done and it's not the kind of thing you would normally spring on them for an important European tie. It could be a way of setting traps for myself, leaving myself open to criticism if it doesn't work. |
Only time will tell if we come through, |
Our efforts were fantastic. We can play better, but the spirit, determination and passion were there... We're still alive. |
Over the last couple of years we have made contact with the top agents in the Czech Republic, for example, |
People say the draw could have been worse or it could have been better but the draw's the draw. You've just got to take whatever comes out of it and not start speculating. Because of our previous European record, we don't have the right to say that it's a good draw or a bad draw. We've just to keep our heads down. |
Peter got a kick in the muscle and I think it hit a nerve. He felt his leg slightly numb, but after the game he seemed fine in the dressing room. It's a relief because we don't want to lose anyone to injury at this stage of the season. |