on the game...
"We gave absolutely everything until the last
second. It was a very physical game where we had early chances but
we didn't take them. They tried to lift the ball, to fight for
every ball, and they did it very well. They took advantage of our
first mistake at the back and after that it was difficult for us to
come back. We gave everything and they did as well."
on the conditions at Bramall Lane...
"I felt that the pitch was very tricky to play
the kind of game we like and it worked to their advantage. It was a
real cup game today, the weather made it a typical, old-fashioned
cup game."
on 'physical' matches ...
"It is difficult to accept losing a game like
that because you come out of the game thinking they didn't
create a lot. But it is part of the English game, you get that once
or twice and year where it is a typical cup game. One or two
challenges were difficult to take, especially on Van Persie, but we
could have won the game despite that. I feel for a long time there
is a misunderstanding between me and the press about what is
'physical'. I have nothing against physical games but there
are things I saw today which have nothing to do with
that."
on failing to test stand-in keeper Jagielka...
"I feel we dropped physically a lot in the
second half because we have played plenty of games in December. We
were less efficient because we dropped physically and couldn't
take advantage [when Phil Jagielka went in goal]."
on slipping further behind the leaders...
"Well of course it is difficult to deal with
the consequences of the defeat today. I agree it is a long distance
now [to Manchester United] but the defeat is tough enough to take,
we will deal with the consequences later. It does make it a big
distance. It is never over, we will fight until the last second of
the season."
on Jeremie Aliadiere and Julio Baptista...
"It's difficult when you come in for one
game to adjust to the pace of the game. They have both showed signs
of quality but I wouldn't make them responsible for our lack of
efficiency up front. Both have shown encouraging signs but they
need a longer run in the game."
on another hat-trick for Anthony Stokes...
"It doesn't surprise me. His loan finishes
now but he must play one complete season. He is only 18, very
young, and at our level there is big competition. If he comes back
and doesn't play it is better to stay away for a whole season,
play games and get more competition."
on the nine injured players...
"I don't know who will be back but that
shouldn't be an excuse for our defeat. We had 11 good players
on the pitch and they did fight very hard. I give them a lot of
credit for their spirit today but we lacked a little bit of
imagination and finishing."
