Ange on team planning for Premier League games against Palace and Villa (Friday 16 May) before the final (21 May)...
“It's a challenging one, but we've tried to navigate that for the last couple of months, particularly Micky, Romero and Destiny to a certain extent, because they've missed a huge chunk of the season, and you always know when guys come back, you have to manage them. Romero and Micky had a couple of setbacks after coming back, so we didn't want to go back down that path. We changed our structures and processes so when they came back, we keep them back. We've done that really well for the last couple of months, but part of that was just managing their minutes. It will be a balancing act. They do need to get some game time between now and then, and that's unlikely tomorrow, because the thing about Thursday night, playing on an artificial pitch takes a lot out of the players. It's fair to say they were sore. I remember when we played at Tamworth (on an artificial pitch in the FA Cup in January), we actually picked up a couple of injuries in the games straight after, because of the surface, so we have to be really careful about tomorrow's game, but next Friday (at Villa) is a bit different. We have to make decisions where, ultimately, we want to be in great condition for the final.”
Ange on team news this weekend...
"Yeah there's no fresh injuries, everyone got through okay the other night. Half hopeful that we get Sonny some minutes tomorrow, so he'll be the only one who can come back in."
Ange on being the first Australian manage to manage in a European final...
"First Greek-born as well, mate. I'm also Greek, so yeah, a couple.. I'm very proud of both of those. I wouldn't have thought of it five years ago when I was coaching in Japan. I guess there will be a time when all the dust has settled when I will reflect on all these things, these unbelievable opportunities that have been presented to me, I've been blessed. But no, there would never have been any sort of reality and even the dreams I had of one day leading out a major football club in a European final, so like I said I've been blessed with all the opportunities I've had in life and with great support from my loved ones and looking forward to the day."
Ange on Oliver Glasner...
"We live in industry which is particularly in our roles fairly cut throat, but I think to be fair, most of my peers have been very understanding and I think they understand the challenges I've had this year as a manager and we've had as a football club. If you take away the emotion of it, they just look at it probably from their standpoint and as I said, we've had extremes this year, but I think one has almost caused the other. Our fantastic run, not just in the Europa but also in in the Carabao Cup has cost us in the league, but also that the troubles we've had in the league have built a resilience in this group to be able to do what we're doing now. I think Oliver's done a brilliant job at Palace as well and I followed his journey. I've always liked managers that start from the bottom rung so to speak and and work their way up because you know there's a little bit more in them than just football knowledge. There's some real determination to get to the top and I've always got great respect for any manager that even reaches this level because not many get the opportunity to do so."
Ange on preparations for Sunday for both teams, with Palace in the FA Cup Final next weekend...
"It's hard to say, but since Oliver got there they are not going to change the way they play. That is the one constant. You know they like to be really aggressive without the ball. They have got some real dangerous players. With the FA Cup Final next week they will probably use this as preparation for meeting Man City. We are expecting a tough game. From our perspective, last week against West Ham while it was not the greatest of games at least we showed some real determination to make sure we didn’t lose the game. For the most part we stuck to the task really well. We need to try and replicate that tomorrow. Particularly at home because I think our supporters will still be buzzing from the other night and we don’t want to let them down. I’m sure the boys will put in a good one tomorrow."
Ange on Yves Bissouma...
"He is a different cat, Yves. Fair to say. I love him though because he has had his own issues this year. I spoke to him about a month ago. He was in and out of the team. I just had a feeling in my gut. I said: ‘Biss, we are going to need you at the crucial time. I don’t know when that is going to be but we are going to need you and if we get the best Biss we can do something special.’ He has delivered. Through that time he never put his head down and complained. He knew that he could be doing better and he wanted to push on. So I’m really proud of him and the way he has handled everything this year."
Ange on juggling all the commitments at the moment, including a number of press conferences...
"Ah, five press conferences in six days (laughs). And that is why I was saying before, I know people are trying to separate the two but there is cause and effect there. We have had a ridiculous injury-riddled season coupled by the fact we’ve done really well in two competitions and that is 60 games. So, it has felt and certainly for me personally it has felt like a really, really long season, but you just get energy and realise what happened the other night and you’re so close to achieving something special that it all dissipates into the background, so you get the energy you need. Even in my career, I’ve been fortunate to have a fair bit of success but I know the key to that is when the opportunities comes along, you take them because you don’t know when they will come around again. The opportunity we have that is all you need to keep the energy levels up, not just for me but the staff, the players, everyone feels the same way."
Ange on any chance Lucas Bergvall might recover in time for the UEL Final...
"That is unlikely. If we had another two weeks, potentially he could. I am sure he will be trying, I am sure Madders will be trying mate just to get the strip on. Unfortunate for both of those guys, but that has been our season. Nothing has run smooth. I am sure there will be parts of themselves really disappointed they are not part of this most important part, but they have been so integral to us getting here. As I mentioned after the game, I don’t think there is a single player in the dressing room who hasn’t contributed to help us get to where we have got to today and should we have success, we’ll make sure they get acknowledged in the right way."
Ange on Dominic Solanke...
"It's important for the club because guys like that are really hungry for success. We keep saying we need to change the culture of the club and how do you become a winning club? Well, I think it is players like that who is again another player that has worked his way to get here, nothing has been given to him, he’s had to earn everything and appreciates what he’s got. If you can bring success at a time where guys like that are at the football club, they are the ones who keep driving it in the future because they want more nights like Thursday, they want to win trophies because that’s why they came to the club and if they do manage to do that, whoever next walks through the door, they have a real clear reference point and example of what you need to be successful. It is great for Dom to have that night but it is just as important for the club that Dom and others in that group, because they are part of the future, they feel that success as well."