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Jose Gomes says he was proud of the way his Reading side took on Man Utd at Old Trafford.
The Royals dominated possession and created more chances than the hosts, but lost out 2-0 to a first-half Juan Mata penalty and Romelu Lukaku strike.
Gomes is yet to win in his first matches in charge with Reading scoring just one goal in that time and he admits his strikers are lacking something at the moment.
On the penalty decision…
Sometimes the delay for the VAR creates a gap in the football dynamic. I agreed with the decision. It was a foul.
On the performance and result…
We cannot find the connections between the two. Looking to the performance, I am very proud of what my players did. They showed courage to put our process on the pitch. They pressed very high, recovered balls in the offensive midfield and created goal situations.
The first chance was for us when Harriott shot over the goal. Also Danny (Loader) dribbled around the keeper so we created chances.
It’s not easy to come from the situation we are in and show intensity and courage, positive and good ideas in positive football.
We had twice as many shots as Man Utd, had 61 per cent ball possession and more corners than United so we produced the performance but the result was not the same. It did not show what we produced.
It means a killer instinct is missing from my team – we have the ball at the right moment around the box but the last pass is missing.
If the displays improves chances of staying up…
I’m sure if we keep the good things we did today, against a very strong opponent even with their changes, the players showed they could do it and they are able to play like that. This is a strong base to look to the future with a big hope.
On January transfer changes…
I would like to do the maximum amount of business I can. I think we should bring in four or five players.
We have FFP – we just need to find some loan players who can help us and can be better than the players that we have. If they’re not better or we can’t find a loan players respecting FFP then it’s better not bringing in anyone.
I am happy with the players and the way they have been working and the courage they have shown because they give us big hope for the future.
On Ilori’s substitution…
It was down to injury – he couldn’t walk properly so that’s why I changed him.
On the lack of killer instinct…
I think the players can improve. There are things in life we cannot buy – you have or you don’t have [something]. But we can improve and the players will improve, even if we don’t bring any players in.
It’s what I have felt in the team up to now – they are missing this offensive aggressivity – the moment to put the ball inside the goal.
RATINGS: Rinomhota superb but Royals struggle in attack
On the lack of goals being a concern…
I don’t know another way to win if you don’t score, it’s impossible. So yes this is missing, clearly.
On Loader’s performance…
He is growing and working very hard. He wants to improve and wants to work more. He is a player with a big future.
On players leaving the club…
We have already taken some decisions and in the right moment we will say what they are.
On Bodvarsson’s absence…
He was injured from the previous match. He didn’t train.
On the difference between the performances against Swansea and today…
I told you after the previous match that the way we started the game will not happen again. My players showed strong spirit from the start today, against a very, very strong opponent.
On the players responding to that defeat…
Yes they did. Playing like that we do not need to be concerned about the future. But we must play with this spirit. The last touch, the last pass, the last shot is missing.
On John O’Shea…
He played two matches before. When Tiago Ilori was on the ground I told him to go and warm up. Then he felt something in his leg.
The way that he trained, the happiness that he showed to all the young players to train daily is like he’s also 18 or 20 years old. He deserved to play at Man Utd, where he played for a long time but he couldn’t come on today. He was not able to play.
On Ilori’s injury…
It’s not a serious injury. He’s feeling pain and he cannot walk properly. I think two or three days. It is a back problem.
