Ruben, for the second consecutive week, you’ve taken the lead in an away match, seeming to have the game under control, only to see it slip away from you. While you’ll likely be pleased to secure a point, how significant is it that this has happened again?
“We face numerous challenges. We’re just getting started. I recognize that some results might suggest to people that we’re progressing— and we are improving— but we have a lot of work ahead. You can really break the match down into the final 10 minutes. Losing both Harry Maguire and Casemiro simultaneously, then conceding two goals, and losing Ben [Sesko] too… even before the second goal, there was a critical opportunity. Despite having to manage all that and still managing to score is a positive takeaway. However, overall, I think we were in a comfortable position during the game, yet we should have been more aggressive. We needed to gauge the atmosphere in the stadium, understanding that the three points were within reach, but it felt like we grew too comfortable, not anticipating how quickly a single play could shift the mood. Today was an example of that. We did control the game well, but there’s certainly room for improvement because the match was one we could have won.”
Matthijs de Ligt has been a consistent presence for you this season. What are your thoughts on his goal? It’s a minor detail, but I noticed he isn’t part of the leadership group— is there a reason for that?
“No, there are players who lead through their performances, while others engage differently in everything that occurs at Carrington. I’m trying to introduce various styles into the leadership group. Ultimately, every player should step up as a leader and support one another. I believe he’s performing exceptionally well— he’s aggressive in defense and shows potential to showcase even more quality with the ball. At this point, he’s focused on minimizing mistakes, which is a wise approach for a player. However, as we reach a stronger phase, our three center-backs will need to dictate the pace and quality of the game. As I’ve mentioned, there’s still much more we need to accomplish as a team.”
