Interview

Gabriel on belief, Raya and Rice

Gabriel pre NLD

Gabriel says the squad are still full of belief going into our final Premier League game of the season against Everton on Sunday.

We need to win our game and also hope that West Ham United can take points off of Manchester City, but Gabriel says that anything can happen.

“There is still belief,” he said. “We are ready for the last game. We’ve prepared really well this week and we’re ready to go to the last game and win and see what happens. In football, anything can happen.

“Everything is normal and we prepare like we do for every game. What we’ve done this year and all the support for us, we’re very happy.”

Gabriel has been one of the key reasons why David Raya was able to scoop up the Golden Glove award recently for keeping the most clean sheets in the Premier League, and our Brazilian defender has been impressed with David’s first season in north London.

“Of course David is a very important player for us,” he said. “We’re very happy to have him here and we’re pleased he joined the club and has been doing a great job.

“We’ve changed the way we play to some extent but with Aaron Ramsdale we were already playing like that, so it’s just small things really.”

Declan Rice also arrived in the summer and has made a huge influence on the team as well, going above and beyond Gabriel’s own expectations.

“I didn’t expect it to be honest,” he said. “I had watched Declan before and knew he was a top player. He’s been having a big impact on the team here and really helping us out so we’re happy to have him.

“He has so much quality and can play in two or three different positions so of course we’re thrilled to have him in the team.”