As usual, we scour the post-match reports and press conferences for soundbites over the last few days. Manuel Pellegrini discusses Yaya Toure’s match sharpness, Tony Pulis talks team selection ahead of Palace’s clash with Liverpool, Sam Allardyce is looking for his defence to secure West Ham’s survival, whilst Gus Poyet and Pepe Mel hail their weekend goalscorers after vital wins boosted Sunderland and West Brom’s respective bids for survival:
Manuel Pellegrini explained his decision to withdraw Yaya Toure on the hour mark of City’s away win at Palace on Sunday. The midfielder returned to action from a groin injury with a goal and assist but, ahead of a double Gameweek, his manager admitted he’s uncertain whether Toure will be 100% fit for the run-in:
“We hope, but we don’t know. You saw him, he was very important for both goals. Yaya only worked with the team the last two days, that’s why he didn’t play more than 60 minutes. But he’s a very important player for us. He’s a top player, and in the 10 days he was injured he doesn’t lose too much on his football condition. So he just played 60 minutes because he was very tired, but he’s a very important player for us. The most important thing is that we don’t depend on just one player. We have a squad and in every game I try to choose the best players that will fit for that moment. Having Yaya fit will be very important.”
Manuel Pellegrini discusses Yaya Toure’s fitness and gives reason for his weekend withdrawal.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet explained the reasons behind his decision to allow Connor Wickham to move to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds on short-term loans earlier in the year. An injury to Steven Fletcher forced the Black Cats to recall the youngster, who has now fired his side out of the drop zone with five goals in his last three appearances:
“Connor needed a run of games. I’m sure that, in football, there are plenty of players who could go to see the manager and say ‘come on, give me five games’. It is not that easy. You cannot give a player five games, because every game matters to the team. But because of everything that happened in the season, I was able to put Connor in and say ‘go on, it’s up to you’. He’s changed it – he’s changed our season around. And if he maintains the level he could be up there with the most-remembered players here at Sunderland, which would be great for him for the future. I spoke about ‘shock’ – this team needed a ‘shock’. And that shock is Connor. It’s as simple as that.”
Gus Poyet hails the impact of Connor Wickham after recalling the forward from a loan stint at Leeds last month
Sam Allardyce is determined to tighten up at the back as he looks for the draw at home to Tottenham which may secure his side’s top-flight survival. The Hammers have registered 12 shut-outs this term but have now conceded in each of their last ten. With two goals scored in the last four Gameweeks, Allardyce is clearly looking for his defence to get his side over the finishing line:
“I think we probably need one more point and we’ve got to get it next week against Tottenham. The lads have got it in their own hands. They know what they need to do but it’s my responsibility to keep them focused. The focus is there but we’re missing the clinical ability to put the ball in the back of the net. At the other end, when we used to be so solid defensively we don’t seem to be quite so solid as we were. We haven’t had a clean sheet for a long time and having got 13 clean sheets up until the last six games, just one clean sheet would give us enough points to start planning for next year.”
Sam Allardyce reckons a clean sheet against Spurs will ensure West Ham’s top-flight safety for another season.
Pepe Mel hailed the talents of Saido Berahino after West Brom’s 1-0 victory over West Ham. The youngster has mainly been utilised as a second-half substitute by his manager in recent weeks but, handed a first start since Gameweek 27, vindicated Mel’s decision by firing the winner and earning the maximum bonus points last weekend. Priced at 4.5, Berahino now has a double Gameweeks 37 to continue his scoring exploits as the Midlands outfit close in on their top-flight safety:
“Yesterday I spoke at great length with Berahino and he knew he was going to play today. I think he is a player with an awful lot of talent and a great future ahead of him. The only thing he needed was to work and think about the team. Today he has done this and therefore I am extremely happy. I am extremely satisfied also because it was a personal gamble. I believed this game was made for him and I’m glad it came off.”
Pepe Mel praises the impact of weekend match-winner Saido Berahino
Ahead of the Baggies’ double Gameweek, Mel also took the time to discuss the importance of Graham Dorrans to his first-team plans. A peripheral figure under the previous regime, the Scot has started each of the last seven and scored twice, suggesting he could be worth considering at just 4.4.
“When I arrived here for the first game against Everton he was actually going to start the game but he fell ill and was ill for two weeks after that. That’s why it’s been so difficult for him to get back in but I’ve spoken to him and it is clear that he understands what I want from him. He’s a player who distributes the ball very well and is technically very strong and also has a good work-rate and has goals in him. There are players who, before I arrived here, weren’t playing all that much and Graham Dorrans is one of those players. He’s a player in whom I have an awful lot of trust and he brings together all of the qualities needed to be a really top player. His goal was excellent.”
Pepe Mel is clearly a big fan of Graham Dorrans’ abilities.
Garry Monk heaped praise on Wilfried Bony after the Ivorian scored twice for the second successive match to help secure Swansea’s survival. The interim-manager rued Michu’s continued absence through an ankle injury, with the Spaniard – who has been restricted to just five appearances from Gameweek 16 onwards – scoring just twice this term, after netting 18 times in his debut season at the Liberty last time around:
“It’s been difficult given the season Michu’s had but Bony has stepped up to the plate and it’s a shame that we haven’t seen more of them as a pair together. You’d like to imagine that a fully-fit Michu and a fully-fit Bony would be a handful for any defence, that’s the only disappointing thing for me. But as far as Bony is concerned it’s not just his goals but the way he is. He’s a big character around the boys. He’s a leader, he works hard and his link-up play and his hold-up play is very good as well.”
Garry Monk on the impact of Wilfried Bony, who has now scored 16 times in his first year in the Premier League.
Tony Pulis dismissed any suggestions he may be set to hand some squad members game time over the last couple of matches. Palace have already secured their survival but, with recent wins over Chelsea and Everton, their results have proven significant near the summit – up next, is a home clash with title-chasing Liverpool:
“I think it’s my responsibility to pick the strongest team, and the team that’s done the best. If I make too many changes for the Liverpool game I think that might cause some problems. Having said that I see Jose made a lot of changes and won at Liverpool, so maybe I’ll ring him and ask him ‘what’s the best way to go?”
Tony Pulis confirms he won’t be ringing the changes for Palace’s home game against Liverpool this weekend.
Speaking after Monday’s comfortable win over Newcastle, Arsene Wenger reckons his side are now better balanced as a result of a lack of injuries. The Gunners boss named an unchanged side for the 3-0 win – Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski lined up behind Olivier Giroud, with Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta sitting in the double-pivot – and has now seen his team score three times in each of the last three, with fit-again Ramsey and Ozil proving instrumental in their push for a fourth-place finish:
“It was a bit of a slow start but we got a grip on the game and became stronger. We controlled the second half well. You could see there is a harmony in the team again and our fluency is strong. We look always like we can create and for a while we had problems on that front. Now that people are back and everyone is confident again you can see that we always look like we can score. It is about getting over the line and finishing the job [to secure a top-four place] now. We want to do it on Sunday against West Brom, who are a dangerous team as well.”
Arsene Wenger feels his side have more fluidity in attack as the treatment room begins to empty.
