Wolves vs Spurs | Every word of Roberto De Zerbi’s pre-match press conference

Here’s what he had to say...

How is the squad, injury-wise? Is anyone coming back? Is there a problem with Destiny?

Roberto: "Destiny has a problem and can't play tomorrow. I'm sorry, because he played a great first half, second half as well, but the first one was great. We have Djed Spence, Souza is also available to come with us, so it's not a big problem. I hope Destiny will be available next week at Villa Park.”

James Maddison was a substitute last week - was that to give everyone a boost or was he available to play some football?

“No, he's not available yet. Especially this week, he felt pain, but not a so important problem. Tomorrow he will come with us on the bench because it's important if he plays or not. It doesn't matter. It's better if he plays, for sure, but also as a guy, as a leader, as a positive guy inside of my dressing room. I want to see nice people and positive people and it's important also for his team-mates.”

The Premier League key incidents panel have ruled that Brian Brobbey should have been sent off for the incident against Sunderland - how frustrating is that to hear?

Roberto: “Can we play again that game or not? Yes, it was clear but no problem. We have to move on and prepare the next game in Wolverhampton. It's not an easy game, for sure. The last three games at home they made a draw with Arsenal 2-2 and they won against Aston Villa and Liverpool. So, they are alive. It's a tough game because they have nothing to lose. It's an important game for us, for sure, but we have to be able to play without too much pressure. My work from now until tomorrow is to prepare in the best way, but to play a game, to play football, because these players are very good players, they have important qualities and that they play without too many problems in their head.”

Were your substitutions planned against Brighton – the added time was long, and a lot of the players looked really tired...

Roberto: “Well, listen, I thought a lot of time about the Brighton game, but in my plan, Destiny Udogie could finish the game, and then I prefer to play with the good physical condition of the players. For sure, it's important five substitutions. We have to prepare a plan before the game and I usually prepare every game, one plan, two plans, two or three different plans, depending on the result and the physical condition as well. Sometimes it's a normal situation of football that can happen, like the problem (cramp) of Xavi Simons. The last ball Xavi Simons touched made the assistance for Archie Gray. It's a problem for me but for every coach.”

You just spoke about not playing with pressure, that's really important at this point, but what is important in terms of your style?

Roberto: “I don't want to put too much pressure, but we have to know the situation. We can't forget the table, we can't forget we need a win, we can't forget maybe what we have done until now. No maybe, for sure what we have done until now is not enough but anyway, if we win in Wolverhampton, it's not finished yet anyway. There are another four games, but I think now we deserve to win again. I knew before the game, Brighton was one of the best teams in this moment, actually in this moment in the Premier League, and after the Chelsea game everyone understood. We played a very good game and we deserved to win. We were unlucky, but we have to be stronger and to keep playing, to keep going.”

What sort of game do you expect at Wolves?

Roberto: “I have big respect for Rob Edwards. I remember very well at Luton, because we lost 4-0 and I remember that game as a very bad game. They have a good players, especially in the midfield position, but we have our target to reach.”

Kevin Danso had such a great game against Brighton, but then obviously the moment at the end and after that, the horrible racist abuse. Have you spoken to him about it? How is he?

Roberto: “I was very annoyed by the racist insults towards Kevin, but he has to be calm. I am proud for him. He played a fantastic game, not a good game, a fantastic game. It was important for the result, but I don't consider one mistake so important. I consider the attitude, I consider the behaviour on the pitch, the quality in which he played that game, the personality while he played that game. He will be here next season because he is a good guy, he is a very good player and every one of us is lucky to work with him.”

What is Destiny’s injury? He is such a young player, but he has had a lot of muscle injuries over recent years...

Roberto: “It’s a muscular injury, but not so important. He didn't play for a long time, and it can happen at the beginning when you start to feel something of this problem. I have a big opinion about Destiny, and he is a crucial player for us. We are lucky because we can play with Djed Spence, another important player. I think he is playing very well this season, another very good guy.”

Dejan Kulusevski has said his dream is to play at the World Cup this summer – do you think he is going to be back in time for the end of the season?

Roberto: “I'm sorry for him because he was one of my perfect players. He is a very specific player for me, like Kudus, like Romero. I hope for him that he can play in the World Cup because the World Cup for a player is a moment, is the best period of their career. I don't know the situation very well.”

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Why did Pape Matar Sarr miss the game against Brighton – is he available for tomorrow?

Roberto: “He felt pain in the shoulder and this week he has not worked with the group. He is not available to play.”

Also on Vicario – is he available tomorrow? If he is, it would be a difficult decision to pick between him and Antonin Kinsky...

Roberto: “No, Vicario is not available for tomorrow. I hope he can start with me from Monday. Antonin is playing very well and from Monday we go to work with him. I hope Vicario can come back in the best physical condition because he is another very important player for us.”

Xavi Simons stepped up against Brighton, Pedro Porro scored – which players are you wanting to step up?

Roberto: “I think Xavi Simons but also Gallagher. I watched the same Gallagher when he played in Chelsea. Dominic Solanke played a great game, Micky van de Ven, I don't know what the problem was, but everyone knows my opinion about him. Pedro Porro scored a goal, but he played an important game. Udogie, Danso I think maybe can improve in the confidence, not in the attitude because he is a good guy, he worked a lot in the defensive phase, especially in the defensive space, but Kolo Muani in the second half, in the second part of the game, Mathys Tel, both can play better. Not play better because they are playing bad, but because they have a big, big talent and I want to see all this talent on the pitch.”

What are you hoping to see from Kolo Muani and why are you sticking with him?

Roberto: “For sure, we have to start from one clear point. It's not the best position for him, right winger, and also for Mathys Tel, because Mathys Tel is more of a winger, but in the left side. For a winger, from my experience because I was a winger, it's a totally different playing the left and the right side. Both they can play and we need them in that position, because just one player has to play not in their favourite position. I think it's not a problem about the position of the pitch, but I think the confidence and the players can change completely, performance depends on the confidence. If they feel totally confident from the coach, from the environment, from the fans, and they want to help them both to play following their qualities, that's just it.”

What do you think of the work you've done with the players so far?

Roberto: “I'm very happy. I'm happy to work here because the part of the staff I found when I came is special, as a guy, as a professional and the players the same, they are following me, they are good guys. Sometimes when one team is losing too many games, the rumours are not nice as a behaviour, as the people speak about not too much serious players. No, it's not like this in this case. I found good players, good guys, serious players, they are following me, they believe in my words, because I am able to recognise the eyes of the players. We are suffering, they are suffering, because it's not easy to play in this condition of the table. I said they have to be stronger and they have to live to win a game. We have to live every part of the day waiting for a win, preparing a win, because I think with a win we can change this part of the season.”