Every word from Andoni Iraola's pre-Brighton press conference

Here’s every word the Basque boss said in the broadcast section ahead of the visit of the Seagulls.

Mark McAdam (Sky Sports News): You had a fabulous set of four games before the international break. Obviously, victory against Arsenal, point against Villa, beat Manchester City, and in that final match you got beat to Brentford at the Gtech. How much did that last defeat hurt off the back of such a positive run?

Andoni Iraola: Yeah, probably you remember the last one.

That is a defeat, but I finished quite happy with the performance. I think we played really well that game, but we didn't get the result. I think as long as we continue being competitive in every game against any opposition, I think we will be fine, but it's not easy to do.

MM: You go into the international break with that defeat. Is that something that eats away at you every day during that period of time where you get the chance to reflect on what's happened?

AI: Yeah, probably.

It happens both ways. You analyse a lot the last game you played, and you have a lot of time also to prepare for the next game. Not probably with the players because, you know, we are training with a very reduced number of players during these two weeks.

But you see everything about Brighton and it's a good time, I think, to try to solve small things, individual stuff with players that probably in a normal week you don't have so much time to do.

MM: How much have you used this final international break of the year to work with the players? What have you done personally to maybe take yourself away from the pressures of Premier League football?

AI: I think it's the last breath, a little bit that you had before a very demanding and long run of games now, especially in December.

But for sure it's probably more difficult for the ones that go with the national teams and they have to continue with the pressure with the competition. But I tried to use it the best way I could personally.

And also on the work side, with the players that have stayed here, trying to improve their individual performances.

MM: Did you get back to Spain? Did you have a holiday?

AI: No, I went past weekend to Edinburgh. I didn't know it, really nice place.

Because there is a connection from Bournemouth, it's quite easy to go and I went there just to spend the weekend. But nothing else.

I haven't done anything else.

MM: So you took the wife to the castle just to switch off?

AI: Yes, yes, that's it. Yes, with the kids and yes, good weekend.

There was the Christmas market there. Also cold, but nice weather. So good weekend, but it's going to be the last one in a lot of time.

MM: It's fascinating that you go somewhere colder when all your players go to Marbella or Dubai, somewhere warmer.

AI: Yes, it was because of the flights, I think I hate to travel a lot with the connections and this stuff.

So for me to go back home is like, it takes a lot so it's not worth it for just two days. So I found nice connection. I didn’t know the city and it was really, really nice.

MM: Fantastic. Obviously, international breaks were always a concern for managers because of the players getting injured. Can you just give us an update on players coming back from international duty? Who's fit, who's available and maybe who's a concern?

AI: No, everyone that has gone with the national team is available.

Everyone has come healthy. Obviously some of them have played more minutes and they are going to be more tired, but I think it's something expected, but no new injuries from that side.

MM: And in terms of Brighton at home this weekend, we know how good your home form has been recently, so they'll come here with the fear factor of what you've done against big sides in the Premier League. But they're again having a great season and a very difficult team to set up against.

Through your analysis, what have you learned about what Fabian Hurzeler has done with that Brighton side and how much of a challenge will this be?

AI: I've liked a lot of what I've seen from Brighton. I think they are playing really, really well.

I think they keep a lot of good things they had previously with Roberto de Zerbi, that they give them control of the games and a lot of possession. But I think they are even more dynamic and they are, for me, playing really, really well. And for me it's not going to be easier than the last games we played here.

I think we will have to be at our very best because also they have an incredible depth of squad. You know, they have a lot of very high-quality players to choose from to affect the game in second half. So for me it's going to be as demanding at least as the last games we played at home.

MM: When you look at the last games you played at home, Arsenal, Manchester City, does that kind of a performance prepare you to play against Brighton? Are they very similar in the way they set up to the other sides?

AI: Yeah, they have a lot of things in common with these big teams. I think we have to be ready the same we were against Arsenal, City, to play very well without the ball, because for sure we will spend time without the ball and also to be ready to win very difficult individual duels because they have players that are making the difference, they are imposing themselves.

And if we want to match them or to beat them there, I think our performances individually and collectively have to be very, very good.

MM: And just finally, for me, we've seen this week big story at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola extending his contract for two years as well.

I know there'll be a lot of Premier League managers that will think, oh, here we go. We've got another two years of the greatest managers that the Premier League has ever seen to compete against and challenge. What was your thoughts when you saw that? Is that something that excites you to see him in the English game for a longer period of time?

AI: Yes.

I think he's in a level where basically he can choose whatever he wants to train, whatever he wants to do. And obviously it's his personal decision. And I think for the rest it’s a big challenge because you know you are facing probably the best one.

So every time it's very difficult, you know it's going to be very difficult. But it's, I think, also a big challenge for every other manager.

MM: Did you send him a congratulations message?

AI: No, I didn't. No, I think he doesn't care, he shouldn't care from what I think, I think.

Kris Temple (Premier League Productions): Andoni, just popping back to the international players you mentioned there are no new problems, but Antoine Semenyo didn't go away. Ghana reportedly had a little problem with his knee.

What can you update us on that?

AI: With Antoine, it's very similar to Milos Kerkez. I think they are players that are playing a lot of minutes. They are still young and they are playing with the club, with the national team and it's kind of a tendonitis.

It was the only time he had to try to receive the treatment, stop playing for at least some days and try to solve like a more chronic injury. It's not something that happened the day against Brentford.

It's things that he's playing with and he needed and with Milos it’s very similar. They needed to stop, receive the treatment and try to improve their overall condition physically to continue with these demands that are very high because we are using them a lot and normally they play all the games every minute and I think it's something that they needed.

But I think they can continue playing with this, it's not something that, you know, I hope it becomes better and better and they forget about these things.

KT: I guess not an ideal month or period to be going into then with those kind of issues that there's a lot of games coming up.

AI: Yeah. But for sure, if you ask any other manager, everyone, we have our problems, our injuries right now we have to get used to lose, in our case, three, four important players and still continue to be competitive.

And we will try to continue.

KT : Just to be clear, they're both fit for this game.

AI: Yes, I hope they are fit. They are going to train today, so I hope they can play tomorrow.

KT: There's a broader picture with Antoine Semenyo as well that Ghana didn't qualify for the African Cup of Nations now, which means that you won't lose him for a period of time. What I guess what are your emotions on that? Because Antoine, I'm sure would want to go to a big tournament, but for you that would be seen as a positive.

AI: Yeah, but I also understand the player because I think with Antoine, he has been pushing a lot. He has been always wanting to help the national team.

I think they have very good players. They are not getting the results. There is some frustration there from their side and it's true that it can be better for us, in the period of especially January, February there.

But you never wish these things to happen because I don't know, Dango has qualified, he's very happy, he wants to play and for sure it's a big thing for him and I think are things that players enjoy to players.

KT: Ryan Christie is suspended for this match after five yellow cards. What do you lose in terms of him in this kind of game where it is obviously going to be a high energy game where you have to through a lot of work?

AI: We lose a very, very important player for us. I'm not going to start talking about how important he is for us, but it was a matter of time.

We also have another three players with four yellow cards waiting for this fifth yellow card and we'll have to adapt. Obviously you want all the players available to have everyone just in case we need them, first half, second half.

But we will have to adapt. It's true that probably his replacement, Alex Scott is also injured. So we will miss two important players there in the midfield. So we will need others to step up.

KT: Last couple for me, obviously in the last game you brought Kepa back and you mentioned that maybe he could have done better for one of those Brentford goals. Mark Travers had impressed everybody with his performances. Do you see a time when Mark Travers is able to win the shirt ahead of Kepa, when Kepa is fit and available? He's a 70-million-pound keeper, obviously.

AI: Every game I take the decisions.

You know, the other day you say a mistake. I don't think it's a big mistake. You know, big mistakes of keepers, we know what are big mistakes of keepers. You know, he's a shot that maybe he should save. But it's not a mistake from the keeper.

You know, it's like probably if you ask him he will say from the three, the second he could have done a little bit, yes.

But if you, after the games, you ask the keepers in every goal they always say maybe if I would have done this, maybe. And I am very happy with the performances of both how they are working from the beginning and it's not easy for me to take the decisions, it’s true.

KT: Just finally you're wearing a white ribbon, we can see there, it's White Ribbon Day on Monday. The club have released a very powerful video about the campaign to end violence against women and girls. It's had over a million views, I think on social media already. I presume this is a very important campaign for you fronting the club to support as well.

AI: Yes, I've also seen the video and I think the video is nice but especially the message is very, very powerful and I'm glad that has this repercussion and everyone can think in these things that sometimes in our everyday we don't stop a little bit to think on these important things and I think it has a very powerful message, yes, I agree.