If you're not winning enough, we know you will not get enough support from the fans. But when we're winning, it will change, when we start winning again. Which we will do. I'm not in doubt of that. I think also you can look a little bit at the performances.
Let's say the Bournemouth and the Villa and this game here, if the players stop running, or stop doing anything, or not working hard, and we are not the team that's closest to winning, then you can say OK. But I think the team is working very hard. And I still think, and I know it sounds a little bit crazy, that we are close to something very good, than further away.
I think you all saw the game today, we could easily have won this one 2-1. I think it's no excuses. But also the reason we're a little bit down to the bare bones with players. And we also need some of the offensive players to score a goal or two. All that is difficult for me to do like that and click with a finger. But I can promise that I'm sitting here, giving everything, every single day. I feel the trust from everyone and there's only one way, we need to keep going.
I think you could see signs of it. That has really looked right. But of course, we can only talk about it here, but Kolo looked sharper, Xavi got in some top positions, Mathys as well, Wilson as well. It's good to have Dom on the pitch. But I also think it's a sign that the goal is scored by Cuti, our captain and centre-back.
And we didn't have enough chances, or the cutting edge from the offensive players on the day. And that of course is no criticism, it's just reality. We didn't have the cutting edge, the perfect weighted pass, the sharp finish. And that we need to keep working on. And keep going.
Yeah, but I always, we say that they play for the head coach or me. I hope the players are playing for the club, the team, each other, the fans, me, the staff, ownership, everything. They play for their families. That's what I hope.
But I also know, and that I know very well, if you are building a good culture and someone who can get through tough times, you need to see the team running, and especially in tough times. I see a team that is running in tough times. I also see a team that's doing everything they can to turn this around. I also think you can see that in quite a bit of the performances, even when it's very tough.
Two things, first good to see Bissouma back. He has been injured for a long time and then he was in the Africa Cup of Nations and came on the pitch and did well. Two, yes I have seen the letter and I took six to eight positive things out of the letter. Not apparently the negative thing. What I take out of that letter is that a club and an executive team with Vinai on top that are aligned and know this is a big transitional phase.
It’s a super-tanker we’re turning in the right direction and there are a lot of good signs behind the scenes and also in some of the performances, but of course when you lose last-minute to one of your rivals, it is very emotional football and there will be noise. That noise we need to keep out there (away) and get head down and keep walking, keep doing the right thing.