Taken from the Official site, interesting read:
It's been a big week Rafa, what have you made of it all?
I think it's been a very important week. I think it is something which will change everything in a positive way for the club. But now we have to play Newcastle, and it will be tough. It's been a difficult week as well, because we haven't had the players training. Mark Gonzalez has been flying all around the world and came back yesterday. We then had all the players, we could have a look at them and prepare for the game.
You've met the new chairman, can you tell us what you talked about?
We talked about the future of the club, not about money or which players we want. We talked about young players, those players we have now in the squad and also possibilities for the future, but more so about ideas. We also spoke about the stadium and the supporters. I think they understand how important the atmosphere, the heritage and the supporters are to this club. They are really well-informed.
What's been the reaction of your players?
They are excited and I think they have the same impression as me, that these are nice, friendly people. They are businessmen too, so that is a good mix. They will try to do the things they are doing in America in terms of marketing. We can grow and we can improve.
How important was it that they came out earlier in the week and told the fans what their intentions were?
I think it was important. They were talking with the chairman, with Rick Parry and some members of the board, with the manager and with some of the players. Now they've talked to the supporters and they know the situation. The mentality of these people is really good.
What could this mean in terms of your own spending power?
I've said many times that I am happy with our scout department. We are doing our best now without big money, though I have always had the support of the board. We have enough money to do business now, and if we have more money in the future, okay, it will be easier.
Are you frustrated the takeover has been completed just as the transfer window closed?
It's a pity, but we were looking for specific players in specific positions. We've done Arbeloa and we're waiting on Mascherano – these are the things we needed. Our squad was good, we didn't need a lot of players.
How much of a relief is it to get back to football today after everything that's been going on this week?
It's not easy to be focused. On Thursday we were training but it was really a warm up and saying hello to the players. It has not been easy to prepare the small details like I usually do, but we have experience in these situations and we'll try to do our best.
Craig Bellamy will be going back to Newcastle for the first time, will that affect your team selection?
No. If the player is ready, I don't have any problem. He's a player who can give us different things. Also, we won't have Xabi Alonso, so I'll need to use my strongest team.
How do you assess Newcastle?
I think it's difficult for them at the moment, but they are doing the right things. They have good players and good supporters, so at the end of the day they will normally win more games than they lose. If you are nervous and the team becomes under pressure, it's always more difficult for the manager and for the team, but I think they will start winning some games in a row - after this week!
How frustrated have you been with the Mascherano situation?
You don't know how frustrated I am. We've been waiting since January 1. Now we just want to get it done and be happy. I knew the player, and in every training session he is doing the things we knew he could do. He is a player with very good positional sense, he can keep the ball and pass it really well. Okay, he'll need games, but then we'll see what he's really like. The lawyers are talking, I don't know all the details but I think it will have a positive result.
Could Momo Sissoko feature against Newcastle after his long lay off with a dislocated shoulder?
I think he could. We have Sissoko, Zenden and maybe Mascherano, so you never know. We have different options. All of them are fit, but they have not played games.
Finally, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson suggested Liverpool and other top clubs were not producing enough players for the national team; do you think this was fair?
We have some good young players in the reserve team now, and we're also waiting for players from the Academy. We are doing the right things by trying to improve our English players, but you cannot just look at the passport of a player. You have to see whether they are good enough for a top side. If a player is English and he is bad, he cannot player here. If he is English and he is good, he will play a lot of games like Gerrard, Carra and Crouch.
It's been a big week Rafa, what have you made of it all?
I think it's been a very important week. I think it is something which will change everything in a positive way for the club. But now we have to play Newcastle, and it will be tough. It's been a difficult week as well, because we haven't had the players training. Mark Gonzalez has been flying all around the world and came back yesterday. We then had all the players, we could have a look at them and prepare for the game.
You've met the new chairman, can you tell us what you talked about?
We talked about the future of the club, not about money or which players we want. We talked about young players, those players we have now in the squad and also possibilities for the future, but more so about ideas. We also spoke about the stadium and the supporters. I think they understand how important the atmosphere, the heritage and the supporters are to this club. They are really well-informed.
What's been the reaction of your players?
They are excited and I think they have the same impression as me, that these are nice, friendly people. They are businessmen too, so that is a good mix. They will try to do the things they are doing in America in terms of marketing. We can grow and we can improve.
How important was it that they came out earlier in the week and told the fans what their intentions were?
I think it was important. They were talking with the chairman, with Rick Parry and some members of the board, with the manager and with some of the players. Now they've talked to the supporters and they know the situation. The mentality of these people is really good.
What could this mean in terms of your own spending power?
I've said many times that I am happy with our scout department. We are doing our best now without big money, though I have always had the support of the board. We have enough money to do business now, and if we have more money in the future, okay, it will be easier.
Are you frustrated the takeover has been completed just as the transfer window closed?
It's a pity, but we were looking for specific players in specific positions. We've done Arbeloa and we're waiting on Mascherano – these are the things we needed. Our squad was good, we didn't need a lot of players.
How much of a relief is it to get back to football today after everything that's been going on this week?
It's not easy to be focused. On Thursday we were training but it was really a warm up and saying hello to the players. It has not been easy to prepare the small details like I usually do, but we have experience in these situations and we'll try to do our best.
Craig Bellamy will be going back to Newcastle for the first time, will that affect your team selection?
No. If the player is ready, I don't have any problem. He's a player who can give us different things. Also, we won't have Xabi Alonso, so I'll need to use my strongest team.
How do you assess Newcastle?
I think it's difficult for them at the moment, but they are doing the right things. They have good players and good supporters, so at the end of the day they will normally win more games than they lose. If you are nervous and the team becomes under pressure, it's always more difficult for the manager and for the team, but I think they will start winning some games in a row - after this week!
How frustrated have you been with the Mascherano situation?
You don't know how frustrated I am. We've been waiting since January 1. Now we just want to get it done and be happy. I knew the player, and in every training session he is doing the things we knew he could do. He is a player with very good positional sense, he can keep the ball and pass it really well. Okay, he'll need games, but then we'll see what he's really like. The lawyers are talking, I don't know all the details but I think it will have a positive result.
Could Momo Sissoko feature against Newcastle after his long lay off with a dislocated shoulder?
I think he could. We have Sissoko, Zenden and maybe Mascherano, so you never know. We have different options. All of them are fit, but they have not played games.
Finally, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson suggested Liverpool and other top clubs were not producing enough players for the national team; do you think this was fair?
We have some good young players in the reserve team now, and we're also waiting for players from the Academy. We are doing the right things by trying to improve our English players, but you cannot just look at the passport of a player. You have to see whether they are good enough for a top side. If a player is English and he is bad, he cannot player here. If he is English and he is good, he will play a lot of games like Gerrard, Carra and Crouch.
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