How do you feel a day after your Spanish cup final loss? "I feel disappointed obviously. We have had a great season and in the league I cant fault the players they have been impeccable. The cup run we have been on has been a surprise because promotion back to the top flight was our main aim for this season but we have enjoyed some of the big matches the cup has brought our fans and the players have risen to the challenge. Every round we have come through has put us in good stead to do well next season in a higher league. Real Valladolid are the power in spanish football for a few seasons now. I dont think any one expected us to beat them and playing in a game with such a difference in ability is hard getting the players motivated. The match went well in the first half and going one goal ahead was fantastic you could really see what it meant to the fans. Even at one all at half time I was telling them to enjoy it with no expectations on them. We have a very young team and they are learning every day. Yesterday was a big step in their development as footballers"
Did 5-1 flatter Valladolid? "They are a fantastic team and have players who can cut open any side. I thought at one all it was a close game. Even with ten minutes left to play we were only one goal behind so to finish with them getting five is a little surprising. Our goalkeeper had to work hard all game and our defence made some vital interceptions so maybe when you look at the chances Valladolid should have won easily but it didnt feel like a 5-1 loss while watching the game"
The season is over for you now. Are you ready for next season? "I feel ready. The players have worked hard this season and we hope all that hard work helps them to improve over the break. The team is good enough to fight to stay in the next division up but we want to finish above the relegation fight. Valencia were in a bad way when they went down but this is a club too big for the league we are in. We know relegation next season is not an option"
A final word on the team you own Napoli? "They have really struggled to get any form as the season gets close to ending. That has to be a real worry going in to the play off matches. Andy is a good manager but has had a lot of bad luck in the play offs at his other teams and there is a real danger the team will be beaten by one of the form sides in his league. The squad has improved nearly as far as I would have liked when I approached him to take over. There are some great players in his squad but I think the production line at Napoli needs to step up next season if he goes up or if he stays in the league he is in. Players have come through and other players have been scouted and bought but the numbers need to be higher if Napoli are going to establish themselves in the top division in Italy. I will sit down with Andy and some of the match tapes and talk about the matches ahead but this is the crunch time in the season and this is when managers have to earn their corn. I believe Andy has a big future or I wouldnt have approached him for this job but my support wont win matches and get him promoted. This is the time he and the players need to show this club is moving in the right direction at the right speed with the right people in place"
Thanks
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Trophy Cabinet
2x La Liga trophy // Sevilla 2x Spanish cup // Sevilla 1x Premiership trophy // Man City 2x English cup // Man City 2x European Cup // Man City 1x Segunda trophy // Valencia
With Portsmouth on a 12 game unbeaten run and occupying one of the automatic promotion places with only one game to go they have been scouting for players who could help them next season if the team was promoted. The manager told the fans this week he had started talks with Preston to buy transfer listed Billy Jones but tonight the deal has fallen through.
'I was talking to Jon about Billy Jones. He would be a good signing for my team even if he is only just better than my defenders at the minute. Jon made it known the positions he was after and an offer involving more than one player in those positions who would be his best players at nearly double Billy Jones price was made. He rejected this changing his mind on the deal he wanted. A new offer was made of nearly double the price of Billy Jones and I was told a deal was nearly agreed with another manager. I resorted to offering to beat any offer he already had and was just told no. I felt from the first message that Billy Jones was just for sale in public as a show and a deal was already decided. I would like to thank Preston for the wasted time meeting all his high demands. If Preston stay one above last in league one because they have sold their best player for mates rates I hope the fans and chairman react appropriately. I would expect to be sacked.'
On the subject of transfers Portsmouth did refute claims Ederson was moving. Ederson has been an important player and a fans favourite since he joined from Deportivo.
'A large Italian and English team have been following him but only old players were offered. I have had to sell high rated old players when I joined because the team was unfit. I wouldn't like to go back to how the old Portsmouth was when the new Portsmouth is doing so well. Ederson might leave in the future but we paid a lot for our size club and we would expect to make a profit. Some really big managers and teams are watching him and if they want him I know they will be able to wow their fans with a suitable offer.'
-- Edited by Lx on Thursday 17th of March 2011 06:51:11 PM
