'I feel that this team is moving forward'

On finishing the season with a flourish…
“It was good to let the team get some credit. I believe we played during the whole season in a difficult position but overall it was good to finish well and have the crowd happy before we start next season. At Man United and today it was important for us not to play sloppy and to give a message out that we can come back next year and be strong.”

On the season as a whole…
“The difficult thing for a manager is feeling that the team has stood still. I feel that we had to re-find a balance after the departures of Hleb and Flamini and the injury to Rosicky. We had a little bit of a dodgy start but in the last 23 games we only lost once against Chelsea here.”

On possible squad additions…
“I feel the team is moving forward but the question we have to analyse now is are we strong enough to win the League next year? If not, what do we need to add to the squad? That is the basic question we have to answer. There is some great quality here, that is for sure. The squad is very young, that is for sure as well.”

On playing Alex Song at centre back…
“I wanted to see him at centre-back again today – he played well at Old Trafford. We looked strong defensively there and I wanted to see him again in that position.”

On Theo Walcott making way at half-time…
“He is not injured. It was planned before the game to change Theo with Nicklas Bendtner.”

On Emmanuel Adebayor being here next season…
“I think so [he will be here]. He’s a great striker who scores important goals. He has proven that for the two seasons he has been here.“

On Robin van Persie’s contract situation…
“We want to extend his contract it’s our priority to extend Bendtner’s contract too. We need to get everyone around the table, we have done that a few times but have been delayed after it. He wants to stay, I want him to stay but he still has two years to go anyway.”

On the great reception from the home fans…
“It makes me feel appreciated and even more regretful that we couldn’t give them what they wanted this season. I am very respectful for their faith in me. It’s very warming and it makes me even more determined to pay them back.”

[Sunday, May 24, 2009]

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