Mckenna on Ipswich comeback to spoil Everton party with 2-2 draw
03/05/2025
Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK
03/05/2025
Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hi Kieran, it looked like it might be a familiar story for your team today, started quite well,
00:10find yourself 2-0 down, but you must be delighted with the character for the comeback.
00:15Yeah, it was certainly a difficult spot to be in, both in terms of how we've come into the game
00:19and the challenges we've had this week, just getting a fit group together to start the game
00:24and trying to get some players back for the bench and coming here knowing it was a big day for Everton as well.
00:29Yeah, I didn't think we started badly, but two moments really that, you know, it's the level,
00:34Beto was really good on crosses and we didn't defend them well enough and then we should do a good strike,
00:38but we should do better with it and you're in a really difficult spot in the game and in your season,
00:42but the group really stuck at it, of course it was a great goal to get us back in it,
00:46but the goal also probably doesn't happen if the group have stopped believing and dropped their heads at that point.
00:52And yeah, I thought we were good value for a couple of goals, thought we played some good football,
00:58defended with pretty good organisation, didn't give Everton too much and thought we would value for a point.
01:03Just a bit more on that strike from Julio, we know he's got it in his locker, done it a few times for Brighton,
01:09does he do it in training?
01:11Yeah, he does. He's got an incredible show reel for a young player certainly.
01:18But yeah, it's, you know, in some ways frustrating that we haven't had him for more of a season to be honest,
01:23because, you know, we arrived late and then he had an injury pretty soon after coming and that individual quality that,
01:29you know, pretty much every team at this level has lots of that can win your points and win your games.
01:35And Julio is certainly one who can do that. So, yeah, we're enjoying having him.
01:40I think it's a testament to him, how he's working for the group, to be honest, because, you know,
01:44of course he's a lone player here for a short while and he's not quite been able to get the momentum up that we would have wanted early enough in the season.
01:53But he's stuck at it. The group have stuck with him. They know he's a talent. They know he can make a difference with us.
01:58So they're pushing him. They're helping him improve. He's improving. The players who come to us tend to do so.
02:04And you can see him getting better and maturing by the week. And yeah, he made a big difference for us today.
02:09He made a big difference for us at Stamford Bridge at Bournemouth. And we would have loved to have had him, you know, a little bit earlier.
02:15Subs making impact today. That must be pleasing for you as well.
02:18Yeah, yeah, no, the bench is getting a little bit stronger than it has been in recent weeks.
02:22So it was nice to have Calvin sort of back available and Omari back, which then enables you to have Jack or someone else on the bench.
02:30So, yeah, we're still not anywhere near full strength, of course, but I think we'll get stronger over the next couple of weeks.
02:35And we know the bench can make a big, big difference at this level.
02:38So the three boys who came on especially early, done really well and give us energy whenever we started to lack it probably
02:45and divided for George with a goal.
02:47Just in general terms, the character of this group, the relegation to have been confirmed last week to come from two goals down
02:54with the context of what this game means to Everton?
02:57Yeah, I think that's evident. And to be honest, I think it's been there all season.
03:02It's, you know, some days it's harder to show it than others with the level of the opponent.
03:07But I think it's been there all season and shown again today.
03:10In a difficult circumstance, everyone stuck at it.
03:12Even, you know, the start of the second half.
03:15We started really well, but then there was a spell where we had to defend altogether for ten minutes with real discipline.
03:21And even at 2-1 down, everyone is prepared to do that.
03:23And you do that, you give yourself a chance to, you know, push on later in the game and get the goal back.
03:28So, yeah, I don't think there's any question mark around that.
03:30It's how it has to be.
03:31The supporters deserve it.
03:32And, you know, that's what we have to keep on showing.
03:38I presume, is that just a loan that we will go back to Brighton when the season's over?
03:46Is there any option to keep him?
03:48No.
03:49Look, it's a contractual thing, but there's no option to keep him.
03:53He's a big, big talent and he's a Brighton player come the summer.
03:57George, proper striker's goal, but he's done very well, isn't he?
04:04Every time he's played really this season.
04:06Yeah, he has.
04:07I think it will be a frustration for us in the summer because we've missed him this season a lot, to be honest,
04:12when he hasn't been available.
04:13And, yeah, he makes a good impact off the bench when he's had his chances to start.
04:17He's done really well.
04:19He deserves to play more, but Liam's form has been very good.
04:22But I think he's developing really well.
04:24I think he's got a great chance.
04:25I think those profiler strikers, if you're saying tall or maybe gangly in his early 20s,
04:32strikers, they tend to, I think, develop a little bit later at times.
04:35Often you look at some of the ones who have gone on to do really well at 24, 25,
04:39they're certainly not where they are at 28, 29, 30.
04:42So, yeah, I think he's got a good chance to keep developing and he's maturing well
04:45and, you know, a really good moment for him.
04:47You mentioned lots of late calls.
04:49How many were there in Hugu specifically?
04:52Yeah, I think we were working the start of the week where we've been the last few weeks
04:59with a group of sort of 13, 14.
05:01All the boys who were on the bench, who back in, so Jens, Calvin, Axel,
05:07not fit to start the game but, you know, made themselves available for the team really.
05:13Omari, of course, good to get him back in the side today and we're missing, yeah,
05:18probably our four first-choice full-backs, if you want to call it that,
05:21which is pretty unusual.
05:24So, again, it's a back line of two centre-halves out of position really in the full-back positions
05:29and Wolfie and Burge really stepping up.
05:31So, yeah, a lot of challenges for the Boise Cup.
05:34Did it take a deflection?
05:36I don't think it did.
05:38There was a lot of swerve and Dwight Neal's done that before and it's not easy to read.
05:43I'm sure we'll maybe look at anything.
05:44We could do better.
05:45Yeah, no, I think it was just a swerve on the ball.
05:48Thanks.
05:49Joe?
05:50Yeah, no, just about Hurst as well.
05:54Obviously, Liam has had a lot of publicity this season and rightly so, I guess,
05:59but for the other players, does that kind of inspire them?
06:02I'm sure there's no jealousy, but do you know what I mean?
06:04For people like him who are playing second fiddle and then he gets his chance of scores going,
06:07it must be a good feeling for him.
06:09Yeah, it will be.
06:10Look, everyone's pleased for each other in that group when anyone individually does well,
06:14so we know that Liam's goal tally has been good and his performances have been good
06:17and had plenty of notice, but, you know, George knows he can feel it day to day,
06:22that he's getting better.
06:23He feels it and we all see it in training and he's managed to show it at Premier League level
06:26and it's a big, big jump from where he was a couple of years ago.
06:29So, you know, he's not even had that much time really playing championship football as a starter.
06:35He only really had the first half of last season.
06:37So, yeah, at 25, I think what he still is, the way he's growing physically and mentally,
06:42I think he's got a great chance to keep pushing on.
06:46You mentioned Liam Dillap there.
06:51He seems to enjoy the physical battle engaging with the centre-backs,
06:55but there was that moment in the first half where obviously he got himself a yellow card
06:58and then there was a foul straight afterwards.
07:00And then it felt like maybe he pulled out of a potential challenge just ahead of the Dwight McNeil goal.
07:05Do you think that this is something that you're going to have to maybe speak to him about,
07:08being able to pick your battles when it comes to that physical side of the game?
07:13No, Liam knows this.
07:14He likes to play on the edge and it's a strength of his,
07:17so he knows he needs to manage it and he's done pretty well this year.
07:22Thanks everyone.
07:23Cheers.