🎤 Gus Poyet Exclusive Interviews with OLBG

July 2025

Q: What were your thoughts on Spurs sacking Ange Postecoglou for Thomas Frank?

I talked to the press before the final and I was saying: if he doesn't win the final, it’s not going to be very easy for him to stay.

Ange Postecoglou

Knowing how important it is for Spurs to win trophies, after winning a European trophy, regardless of the Premier League position, you would expect that a person who won the trophy after 16 years would stay at the club.

However, I think it was too many things coming in towards the end. It was very — as a coach — very annoying, the period between the final and when he actually got sacked, those days and weeks. Because it was like, what are they waiting for? Just confirm he’s staying or sack him. So they were dragging the atmosphere down around White Hart Lane.

To then make the decision, I think on the scale, if you put the Premier League position there, even with winning the trophy, it was a little bit too much for the club.

You know, Spurs — I’ve been there and I know — you can expect anything.

So yeah, a little bit unfair for the coach being sacked after winning the trophy, but it's the life we live as managers.

Q: What changes do you think Thomas Frank needs to make?

Well, he has the experience and he got Brentford playing better and better.

Thomas Frank

I think he also has to change, with all due respect, it's not the same managing Brentford in the Championship as it will be managing Tottenham in the Premier League and doing well with a certain group of players and a certain style.

Jumping into Tottenham, you need to go to another level.

So it's a combination. Firstly, he needs to take that responsibility and accept the challenge and then next he needs to get his players on board with what him and his staff want to do.

Like I said, he’s got experience, so overall I think he's going to be alright.

Improving last season's Premier League position will be the easiest of all time for a Spurs coach, because they finished 17th, so you can’t really finish worse than 17th.

It's going to be interesting, especially dealing with that step. You know, we think that we know, but until you're there and start losing games — not just not winning, but losing — you don’t know. So you need to live it through.

I think it's a good appointment, and I think the majority of people are happy as well.

Q: How will Spurs do next season and where do you think they will finish?

Look, for me, it would be the same if I was the coach, anything below 10th is a disaster. That’s it. Bottom line, that’s it!

Then, within the top 10, the difference between finishing ninth and sixth and getting into Europe or whatever is very little. I do think Spurs need to challenge to be in Europe.

Now, you cannot say The Champions League because there are so many good, quality teams that qualify for the Champions League nowadays, but I would say they need to be playing in Europe again in some capacity.

They need to finish within the top six or seven and win a cup!

It's always important for a club like Spurs to win something.

Q: Could you see Jack Grealish thriving at Spurs from Man City?

I hope so. I think the quality, the characteristics, the ability — everything is there.

Then it depends on how the team plays and what the manager asks of you - these are different things.

At Villa, he was playing okay on the left, but sometimes free, and he was able to do many things his own way. Then he went to Man City and had a role. You need to stay on the left, you need to wait, you need not to lose the ball, you need to pick the right moment to go 1-v-1. When you change teams, you need to adapt to that.

The quality and the experience is there, so I’d expect Grealish to do well in the Premier League at Spurs.

Q: Reports say it’s likely Son Heung-min will depart the club this summer — is it time for Spurs to cash in on him?

It's a tough one, because he’s so representative of the club.

It does happen to clubs and coaches when it's a player who is so well loved by everybody; but they get to a certain age and you don't know when the right time for them to leave is. So it's a tough one.

I think the people who are inside the club should know better than I to make an opinion.

Q: Is Dominic Solanke the long-term centre-forward Spurs need – or do they have to buy big again?

I think he did well before playing for Spurs.

Like I said before, it's a step. It's a step forward, it's another responsibility. With all due respect, it’s not the same at his previous club compared to playing at Tottenham.

It was a difficult season for Spurs. Normally, I would like to say, the number nine of any club depends on the team. You’re there to score and if the team produces, then it's up to you; if you miss too many, then it’s also you. But in this case, he needed the team to also produce.

And Tottenham this year — I mean okay, maybe worse defensively than offensively — but it was not consistent enough for a striker to be there.

I think he’s done very well. And I think now with an extra year, it's going to be even better. So I'm convinced he can do well for Spurs, yes.

Q: Cristian Romero continues to be linked with a move away from the club to Atletico Madrid — how big of a loss for Spurs would that be?

I think that one is a tough one, for many reasons, as he’s been at the club for a while.

Atletico Madrid, he’s got an Argentinian base of people there. It’s Madrid.

So it depends on many things. It’s not only how important he is or not — it’s about what’s going on in his head and in his family.

It’s not the same if you have a kid who is already, I don’t know, eight or nine years old, settled in school in England — incredible opportunity for an education — compared to going to Spain now and changing all that. Maybe they’re little and it’s different. So it’s a whole situation there.

But any decision has to be made at the right price, and be the right decision for the club and the player.

So that’s a tough one. I think it’s not going to be easy. You know, when you’re a coach and you get to a club and one player like Romero, World Cup champion, is in that position, it’s not an easy one to go and make the decision by yourself. I think it has to be shared a little bit by everyone.

Q: Spurs have been linked with Eberechi Eze – should they break the bank to sign him?

What I like about Eberechi Eze is how he keeps growing.

I remember when I saw him for the first time, I wasn’t in England, but I was watching plenty of Championship in QPR, and I was thinking, okay, can he make a step? And then he went to Palace, and I thought, okay, can he make another step and go higher?

And I saw him in the national team and I'm thinking — it looks to me that yes, he can make that step.

So, he’s quite a unique player. If you ask me which player is similar to Eze in the Premier League, it would be tough for me to find a player with those characteristics.

So again, depending on what the manager wants, we talk about different players, similar positions, offensive, like a number 10, can they all play together? Can they accept being on the bench when they’re coming from a position where they were playing all the time? So everyone needs to think about it.

But as a player, I think he’s ready to step up again and go to a better place. Again, sorry — all the respect to Crystal Palace.

Q: How do you think Tottenham fans would react to signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham?

I think he’s a very good player. I’m telling you, he’s scary when he’s on form, he’s proper 1-v-1.

I think the situation here is him being open to the challenge and making that decision to keep growing.

Sometimes, depending on the personality of people, you go to a place and you say, ‘okay, that’s it, that’s my limit’. But there’s always something more, because when you play at a certain level with better players, you can become a little bit better.

You know, I say it all the time in different interviews, when I was lucky to play with Gianfranco Zola, I thought I was better, but not because of me, because of Zola. He made me a better player because it was easier for me to do my job with him next to me and that’s the kind of situation we’d like Kudus to take.

He’s going to have players, many internationals in there that can help him to develop his game even more and if he does that, he’s going to be a very important player.

Q: What did you make of Chelsea’s Club World Cup win and do you think it could give them a huge boost ahead of the new Premier League season?

I think it will give them incredible confidence for the season. Especially because of the teams they played throughout and playing Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

We’re talking about the Champions League winners, they were destroying teams completely.

I think the first half from Chelsea was tactically outstanding. I think the plan from Enzo Maresca was spectacular. The way he adapted how to play against them, and the position he put Cole Palmer in - how they were able to create those chances.

Remember, even before the first goal, Palmer had another one that went very close.

So I think it was a very good plan from the coach and the staff, and the players understood it perfectly. And when you have that quality, anything can happen.

Then the second half obviously changed, but for different reasons — you're winning 3-0 in the final. I mean, it’s natural.

You go to play Paris Saint-Germain, but even then, I think they controlled it well, and apart from a few chances, they were totally deserved winners. It was very impressive.

I said it before the European final — it would be important for these players to win because they are not young anymore. People keep saying Chelsea is a young team — no, they’re not anymore and winning something will bring something extra from them. When you feel like you're a winner and winning this one, it should be even better.

Great opportunity for Chelsea to do big things next year.

Q: What do you make of Enzo Maresca’s first year with Chelsea, and can you see him as a long-term fit at Stamford Bridge?

I think right now you should think that he’s a long-term fit. You know, there were many decisions made during the season, especially after they had a bad spell at the end of the previous year.

Trevoh Chalobah came back and is now playing a big part.

Rhys James is playing more than ever, and they’ll be hoping he doesn't get injured.

I would say Noni Madueke had a terrific tournament and Cole Palmer also appeared when he had to.

I think the two new strikers will give Chelsea a lot — Liam Delap and João Pedro. I mean, quality, power, and a different style to Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson needs to improve if he wants to play. If not, he's not going to play, which is a big call.

Now, I think they’re settled. We mostly know the team, and that’s something I like as a coach.

During last season, there were moments where we didn’t know who would play and who wouldn’t.

So I think Maresca deserves to stay at Chelsea for a long time.

Q: Do you think it’s a mistake for Chelsea to let Noni Madueke move to rivals Arsenal?

It’s never good when players go to a big rival.

But from the outside — and I promise you, I don’t know the reason, because if I did, I’d comment better — it sounds to me like something was not right with him.

I don’t know if it’s football-related. You know when something is just not clear? There were a few rumours, but you never know if they’re true — so it’s not good to keep going with them, but something wasn’t right with his overall situation.

Maybe that influenced things — maybe it influenced the coaches to let him go. And also, maybe he wouldn’t play a lot with Neto and Palmer playing wide.

In this Club World Cup, Nkunku was a completely different player. People were saying to me, ‘He will leave.’ Maybe not. Certain things have changed during this period — Chelsea is progressing, doing things differently. They’re defending differently. Building up differently. The coach keeps improving the team.

Players who were maybe important at certain times — now they’re no one and the opposite too.

We’ll see. I even think — where is he going to play? Arsenal, right? In the place of Saka? No chance, my friend. So, I don’t know. Maybe on the left — okay, he played there a little bit lately. But again, he’ll need to change his style. Arsenal with Martinelli and Saka — who’s going to come from the left? Okay… we’ll see.

Like I said, we don’t know the real reason.

Q: If Noni Madueke does leave, possible replacements have been suggested as either Alejandro Garnacho from Man Utd or Rodrygo from Real Madrid. Which one of those two would you prefer to see at Chelsea?

Yeah, even if they’re both wide players, they’re different. I don’t know what Maresca would like. That would be nice information for us — you know, which style of player? A player who can produce more individually? Go 1-v-1? Who can score?

Depending on those characteristics. I’ve been quite surprised with Neto playing on the left a lot — last season, he was on the right a lot, coming inside.

So maybe there is a change depending on the quality of the striker as well. That will influence whether you want a right-footer or if you want a Garnacho.

With Garnacho, I think there’s something off the pitch too that reminds me a little of Madueke. So, if one goes for a reason and you're bringing another one like that? No. But as a player, as quality — yeah, great future.

Let’s put the ball in Maresca’s court and let him decide. Simple. So he’s happy.

Q: Outside of the players that have been linked to Chelsea so far this summer — is there anyone else they should be looking to sign?

Always — quality players are always welcome. I mean, there’s a player I like at Real Madrid. I always say this, and I don’t think he’ll ever leave Madrid — but I would say that Federico Valverde from Real Madrid can play in the Premier League for sure, because of his stamina, his determination, his responsibilities.

He can play in so many places. He’s not going to leave Real Madrid — that’s a tough one. I think you need your scouts to find the right one. But yes — probably one of the top players from a big team. They’re always welcome at Chelsea.

Q: How proud are you to see Sunderland back in the Premier League? Did you always feel this return was coming?

I thought it was coming slowly. I thought it was a possibility.

But then at the end of the season, they finished so bad — they lost the last five, I think. And I thought, okay, it was not enough.

I think somehow it was just their year. I was at the two playoff games against Coventry, and I don’t think they deserved to get through the semi-finals. I really don’t. They scored at the right time somehow, in both games. And then even in the final, there was a moment where it was all Sheffield.

But it was the season, it was the time — it was perfection. Now I’m sure the next question is coming — are they ready? That’s tough.

They're signing, they're spending money — that means you start from zero, coaching the whole team again, which is tough. To start like that in the Premier League is difficult.

So I think a good combination of what they did last year, with players in specific positions, could help. But let’s see — because, in the last two years, the bottom six teams — three stayed up, three went down. So you need to do something different to be able to win games in the Premier League.

Q: Where do you think Sunderland will finish next season – do you think they can stay up?

I hope so, because I’ve been there and I know how much the club means to the people, to the city.

I know people say, Birmingham is important for Birmingham, but they’ve got other teams around. Chelsea, in London, you’ve got 10 teams. Whereas, Sunderland is Sunderland.

Sunderland playing in the Premier League and beating Newcastle — that’s your life! If you do that, you’re fantastic.

All the rest? It doesn’t count. So they’re in the Premier League and now they just need to beat Newcastle. Nothing else!

Q: How much do you think they’re going to miss Jobe Bellingham moving to Dortmund, and do you think they got a fair deal from that transfer?

When you've got a player that good, they will always leave. I mean, if you look at his brother as well, you can see the pattern.

I think it’s very difficult to find another player like him. There are not many midfielders, box-to-box, goal-scoring, with power, with size. It’s not an easy situation, because I’ve been looking for those kinds of players myself.

So now, they’re spending money trying to find similar characteristics. You never know how new players will adapt. There are two ways clubs tend to go: the Fulham way — a few years ago they spent £100 million and still went down — or like Ipswich, who do just enough and still go down.

You need to be in the middle and fix it. Let’s say if you sign five players, you can’t miss more than one. One maybe doesn’t work, that’s fine, but the other four need to be spectacular. If two don’t work, you’ve got a problem, especially if you’re spending money.

So the recruitment system is key.

Q: They've been linked with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Do you think that would be a good signing? And are there any other names they should be looking at this summer?

I think it's an interesting name. I think in certain positions you need players who know the Premier League.

I’ve said it before — as a coach and as a player — we all think, ‘I know the Premier League. I can go there.’ It happened to me. I was 29 years old, I thought, easy. Then I got there — I wasn’t getting forward. When I was getting back, I wasn’t getting back fast enough. They were going for it, and I was chasing the game. I was thinking, what is going on here? Why are they so quick?

You think you can handle it, but it takes time. For some people, it takes three months, others, six months — some people never adapt.

I always give the same example — there was a player who went to Fulham, Frank Anguissa, a big central midfielder. It didn’t work for him. He had played at Milan, Napoli, huge clubs. But the Premier League is a different style. A different club. Different teammates.

Everything needs to be right for a foreign player to come in and succeed — unless you’re an individual genius.

So sometimes, having a base of Premier League-experienced players helps those foreign players adapt. What can I say? I came in as a midfielder, and then it was Dennis Wise — he was shouting at me: ‘Do this! Do that!’ Okay, with the F-word — but still. I looked at him like, what?!

I didn’t do that in Spain — I played seven years in Spain. But then I realised — okay, I need to do it. And then you start doing it. Because someone was there. Or Roberto Di Matteo, who was there and telling me, pushing me, because I was drifting inside when I was supposed to stay wide.

I’d think, ‘But I’m not that kind of player!’ No. Stay wide. And then you stay wide because the team needs you to fill that space.

Those players, with experience, helped me adapt to the formation. If you don’t have that — we used to call them leaders — if you don’t have those, it’s tough for a foreigner. Because they come in, big money, big contract, big car, Rolex and all that — and then you have to play in the Premier League.

And the Premier League doesn’t give you time. You’re in or you’re out. That’s why recruitment is so important.

Q: Moving on to another one of your former clubs, Brighton — how do you see their future under the current manager, Fabian Hürzeler?

Well look, I love the coach. I’ve said it many times and I still love him.

I saw him in Germany — I had a Greek player who played for him at St. Pauli — and I thought his team played unbelievable football.

I think he’s been trying here, and at certain moments they’ve found a way, and at certain moments they’ve dropped a little bit. But that’s also because Brighton are changing constantly.

If you come in — with all respect — Brighton becomes like the second team of Chelsea. You do well at Brighton, you go to Chelsea — like Cucurella, Caicedo, João Pedro. Who’s next?

But when you lose these players, even if you can get someone similar, even if the recruitment system is magnificent — it takes time to adapt to the league. Like I said before — same goes for Brighton.

And sometimes these players arrive with adrenaline to do really well. But then in October, November, they go down, because you can’t maintain that Premier League pace.

So those constant changes at Brighton — let’s say they complicate things a bit for the coach.

He needs to restart and reinvent himself with new players.

But I trust him. I trust the coach a lot. I love him to pieces. So I hope they’re going to do well.

Q: In terms of their recruitment — they’ve been linked with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott. Do you think that would be a good signing for Brighton? And are there any other names — perhaps a João Pedro replacement — they should be looking at?

Definitely they should be looking for a João Pedro replacement — 100%. When you lose a player of that quality, you need to replace him.

Harvey Elliott is not a bad option. Again, Adam Lallana came from Liverpool. Then it was James Milner from Liverpool. Now, Harvey Elliott. So either way, you’re going to Chelsea, or you’re coming from Liverpool.

I think he’s a very good player. He was probably in the national team last week — it shows how important he can be. He’s a winner. He accepts responsibility. He wants to play.

Now, the one who knows exactly the price is Tony Bloom, that’s for sure, because of their recruitment system. So, if the price is the correct one, it’s a good opportunity.

I would like to see him there — yes. No doubt.

Q: Onto Leeds now. Do you think a newly promoted team can stay up in the Premier League?

I’m looking carefully at the team. I’d like to see one game of Leeds — just one — with the new squad.

I know sometimes you don’t get the players in until the end of August, but I’m really desperate to see them because it’s a different responsibility.

Leeds is Leeds. The fanbase is different and the pressure grows immensely. Sometimes you’re at another club — it could be Sunderland, for example — and okay, there’s pressure, but you know what you're dealing with and the kind of players you want to bring in or not.

But at Leeds, everything is multiplied by five. The problems are bigger — or worse. The celebrations look bigger. I think they need to do something — not necessarily similar — but bring in players in certain positions who can help them stay up. It’s getting more difficult every year to survive. So if you don’t recruit well, it’s going to be tough for any team coming up.

Q: There was speculation that despite getting promotion, Daniel Farke might be sacked by the club. Do you think it's the right decision to keep him, and is he the right man to try and keep Leeds in the Premier League?

Look — sometimes certain coaches go to certain clubs and I naturally think: Why? Like, what are they looking for? What’s the style they want to play? But when they took Farke, I thought it was common sense. It was so clever, so easy.

He went up twice with Norwich in the Championship. You knew that sooner or later he would do it again. Okay, the first year was close, but second year — back up. Top class decision from Leeds.

Now, I don’t think you can tell a coach who brought you up: ‘Okay, thanks very much, see you later.’ I mean, after all the work he’s done to get them there? Come on. Let him enjoy it a little at least. If he’s not good enough, sack him in November — but give him three or four months.

So yeah, the rumours — I don’t know what happened there. But sometimes the things that happen in football now are impossible to understand.

I hope he stays on. His Premier League experience — okay, it was negative — but that’s where we learn the most. I always say, my worst period as a coach was at Betis — three, four months — but I learned so much. I’ll never make the same mistakes I made there, for sure.

When you win, you think, ‘I’ll do this everywhere.’ But no, you don’t. When you lose, you know. So I think Farke is better prepared now, and it’s only fair he stays and proves he can manage in the Prem.

Q: In terms of Leeds' recruitment, is there anyone you think they should be bringing in to help stay up? They've been linked with Josh Sargent and Callum Wilson — do you think those strikers are enough to score the goals they need?

Well, Sargent didn’t play in the Premier League, so it’s always a question mark.

I’d bring in Harvey Elliott if he’s available — if he doesn’t go to Brighton. There are certain players who can take you to another level. But I don’t know what Leeds are looking to spend either — and that’s a big question mark.

That will define the players you can bring in. Again, there are players who’ve already played at this level, and Premier League experience is always important. It’s a different level — completely different.

You think you know, but it’s not the same. And look, one thing I didn’t say earlier that I want to now — when I was young, in Uruguay with my friends, we’d say ‘what a quality player’ about someone doing keep-ups and flicky tricks.

Now? A quality player is technically good, 6'2", powerful, fast, never gets injured — that’s the Premier League now. The ones with skinny arms? We're not in the Premier League anymore. They’re all massive now — they’re athletes.

And the Championship, with all respect, is a step below. Then you get up and think, wow. The formations, the players — they’re all huge.

So to stay up, you need that level of power, size, speed, technique. Everything!

I remember watching Burnley live against Watford when Kompany was coaching. They were terrific. Outstanding. But they were all small — and they went up, and couldn’t win. Straight back down. Because you think you can play, but the others play and they’re stronger and bigger.

So quality is everything and we need to understand that.

Q: One player with a lot of Premier League experience now playing in South Korea is Jesse Lingard. How do you think he’s doing, and would he be open to returning to the Premier League — maybe even with Leeds?

That’s an interesting one. We played against him two weeks ago in the Cup. I can tell you — he’s fit, he’s playing every game, he’s enjoying his football.

He’s the captain of the club now. He’s got a big responsibility, and I see him doing well. I remember before he left England, it was yes, no, where’s he going, all over the place.

Now, he’s regularly playing. He’s doing what he does best, with the ball, playing between the lines, close to the striker.

Interesting now that you’re mentioning him… and if you take him, better for me — because then he’s not playing against me! So yes, take him! Very interesting one. Would be nice.

Q: How much would a prime Gus Poyet cost in today’s game?

They’re selling goalkeepers for £50 million, defensive midfielders for £100 million. Okay, I won’t go too high — but I think now, a midfielder who can score more than 10 goals in the Premier League, without taking penalties or free kicks — they’d be expensive.

I don’t know the number, but it’d be high. You can’t find many of those now. I always say, my style was a little different, but you don’t find too many midfielders who’ll give you 20 a season.

Steven Gerrard, maybe, but I was different to him too. Constantly scoring more than 10 goals from midfield in the Premier League? That’s expensive. Goals are expensive.

To give it a number, I don’t know — let them decide.

Q: Was there a club you regretted not joining — or wished you played for?

To be honest, I didn’t have the opportunity.

There was a little bit of a rumour, because in my last year in Spain, I played behind Morientes. He scored 16 and I scored 14 in La Liga. There was talk that we were both going to Real Madrid.

I thought, not me, I was 29. Morientes, yeah, he was 22, 23, so it was different. Then he went to Real Madrid, and I went to Chelsea.

But I think when you’re little, you dream of playing for one of the top teams in Uruguay, which I didn’t.

Then in Europe, you want to play for one of the big ones. Okay, even if my Chelsea wasn’t today’s Chelsea — I’m still proud.

I go back to Uruguay now, visit schools or whatever, and when they present me, say: ‘Played for River, Uruguay, Grenoble, Zaragoza, Chelsea’ — and the kids say, ‘No you didn’t!’

Because they only know this Chelsea — post-Abramovich, Mourinho’s Chelsea. And I go, ‘Yes! I played for that Chelsea.’ And they’re shocked.

So Chelsea is now seen at a level that when I joined, maybe it wasn’t quite there. But I’m proud of my level.

Q: Who’s the best midfielder in the world right now?

Last year it was easy, Kevin De Bruyne. The year before, same.

Now? The ones I like would be between Valverde and Bellingham. That’s the midfielder we’re talking about, the new Frank Lampard-type.

Certain things I see in both of them. When I imagine my team, I think — I want to play like him.

You can’t find many like that — at the right price, for your club. But those two players, for me, they’re at that level. No doubt.

Q: Who’s one midfielder you never want to face again?

Roy Keane. Killed me every time I played him. And on top of that, he was a top player, an unbelievable player.

But he kept killing me. The last one — he nearly broke my leg. You had to prepare for that game.

A normal game — you just go and play. But against Roy Keane? You need to prepare to play and prepare for what’s coming. You knew what was coming.

Q: Who’s the most underrated player you played with?

There were many in my Zaragoza team. We were very good, and only one or two made the national team. That disappointed me.

But locally, they got the recognition.

I’d say someone who passed away — Bunjevčević. He played with me at Spurs in 2001–2002, maybe 2003. Outstanding sweeper. Glenn Hoddle was trying to play with three or five at the back, and Bunjevčević would cover everything. When we were in possession, he’d come into midfield and play like a centre-mid.

He was so intelligent. Read the game like the best players I played with, but he never got to the highest level.

As soon as we switched to a back four — he couldn’t play. So he left.

But I was 34, 35, already paying attention to tactics — and I learned a lot from him, even if he wasn’t the star everyone wanted. I’ll go with him — Bunjevčević.

Q: Who was the hardest or toughest teammate you ever had?

Dennis Wise - 100%.

I think one season — and I need to check this — he was suspended for like 14 games or something.

I was injured with a medial ligament tear for two and a half months — and I still played more games than Wise!

He got sent off in pre-season — a three-game ban to start the Premier League. Then a red card — four games. Then two yellows — saved a goal in the last minute. Then another two yellows.

He was spectacular. He was incredible. I love him. I love him.

Q: What would you say was your favourite moment from your playing career, and what made it so special?

I was lucky to have many great moments, but I always pick a period in 1995. Until that period, I was growing as a player.

I was very lucky to be at Zaragoza in a moment where we won a European Cup (the Cup Winners' Cup). For a team like Zaragoza, I was not expecting that, so it was a big, massive thing for the city.

Two or three months later, I went to Uruguay and won the Copa América with my country. It’s like before May 10th of 1995, I was okay and felt like a good player, but just okay. After July 1995, I felt like I was at a different level because of those two trophies.

So, if I need to pick a time, 1995 was the best year of my playing career.

Q: What would you say was your favourite moment from your career so far as a manager?

In terms of worldwide recognition, I think my moment at Sunderland, when I somehow saved them from relegation, the miracle, the famous miracle.

It was also the one with the most repercussions, because the Premier League is unique and people were watching all over the world, and I was receiving messages and congratulations from China, Hawaii and all over.

Everywhere in the world people were watching. So, in terms of global impact, probably Sunderland.

Obviously, because you like to win and you like your team to play well, I think my four years at Brighton were the best of my managerial career.

We achieved something gradually and slowly progressed, adding good players, to a point where I was enjoying it.

The team I enjoyed watching the most was Brighton.