Matchweek 7: every manager, every quote

The full record behind this week’s table. Every fixture in the scoring week, every manager’s post-match words as they were published, the score out of 12 and the Identity level his language feeds. The table itself lives on Premiership Managers Revealed.

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Coventry City 4 – 1 Newcastle United

Monday 12 October 2026, Coventry Building Society Arena. Carried into this edition from Matchweek 6 under the Monday rule.

Frank Lampard, Coventry City

12/12. Identity level: Belonging and Purpose.

“We played like the team we want to be here. There’s so much spirit and energy. We know we’re going to have to suffer at times in games; we have to understand what the level is.”

“But the work ethic from the team, the belief, then you get what you deserve, which is great finishes. We haven’t had that rub of the green, which might have helped us nick a few more points.”

“As a complete performance, we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground because it’s only one game and we need 30 more of those. But it’s a great feeling for the players.”

“We are going to be a relative underdog in pretty much every game, so we have to maximise everything beyond the limit. It’s a good feeling for the players.”

“They need to keep their feet on the ground because the next one is tough and the one after that is tough. We looked like a team that was hard for teams to come here (and beat) tonight. That’s the feeling we haven’t had in our first home games this season.”

“This gives good confidence, so it’s a balance of confidence against over-confidence for us.”

“They have to stay humble to that and understand. Every part of the level has gone up.”

“It’s not a nice feeling, looking at the table and seeing zero goals before Forest.”

“Your left-back who hardly scores (Jay Dasilva), scores at Forest, it’s a lovely story but we need more. It’s great and I think it’ll be great for lads going forward to feel that confidence.”

“Good for all the players that scored and good for the team to feel that we can rely on that.”

Lampard wins 4-1 and spends most of the answer taking the heat out of it. Underdog in pretty much every game takes the weight off them. Maximise everything beyond the limit is the standard he asks for anyway. Spirit, energy, work ethic and belief are the SQAs, and he gives them to the group rather than to any one player. The rub of the green line keeps the earlier goal drought away from the players while the belief stays theirs, so he’s got both halves of the Elevate Formula. Hard for teams to come here is the standard they can carry into the next two games he’s already called tough.

Sources: Sky Sports and the Press Association, via The Irish News.

Matthias Jaissle, Newcastle United

6/12. Identity level: Safety.

“We’re frustrated. It’s a feeling you don’t want to have on a Monday evening after a match where you should win.”

“We can only apologise to the fans who came here; they deserve a different result.”

“We need to analyse it, clearly. There were bits that were good but, in both boxes, to defend our own goal we need to improve and also score goals.”

“The opportunities were there, but the desire and hunger to finish the attacks was missing.”

“We need to improve on the things we can control, and that’s a lot right now.”

“I think it was a tough story throughout the whole match. There were elements in both boxes where we need to step up and improve.”

“It’s not something we can compare with the Leeds match today because I think we were at least better.”

“The goals we conceded, it was a different story. We were better after the first 10 minutes, we dominated the game but conceded easy goals, which we need to improve.”

“If you conceded eight goals in two away matches on Monday evenings, then it’s not good enough for the Premier League.”

Jaissle apologises to the fans and owns the result, and that’s about as far as the help goes. The desire and hunger to finish the attacks was missing puts the failure inside the players themselves. That’s the Elevate Formula the wrong way round. He names no strength anywhere, so there’s nothing for them to hold on to. We need to improve on the things we can control is the right instinct, though he doesn’t say what those things are, so Path stays at 1. Eight goals in two away matches and not good enough for the Premier League is honest. It leaves them with the problem and no way out of it.

Source: Sky Sports.

Everton 0 – 2 Chelsea

Saturday 17 October 2026, 12.30pm, Hill Dickinson Stadium.

David Moyes, Everton

2/12. Identity level: None reached.

“We have got referees who we want to be the best in Europe because they let things go but I thought it looked a half-decent tackle (by Armstrong).”

“Someone might tell me different. I wasn’t sure it was the right decision. I was disappointed with the decision at the time. I’ve had a wee look at the Morgan Rogers tackle on Jimmy which some might have said something different, which would have made it a second yellow and that wasn’t the case.”

“I just felt that Chelsea had that little bit more flair and ability which we didn’t possess at the right moments today.”

Almost everything Moyes says is about officiating. He’s measured about it, and he may well be right on the Rogers tackle, though a referee is the one thing his players can never influence, so the whole answer points them somewhere they can’t act. Nothing in it names a strength, a standard or a next step. Chelsea had that little bit more flair and ability which we didn’t possess is the only verdict his players get on themselves, and it’s a deficit. He keeps a mark for taking the result. The rest is 0. The published sample is narrow as well as short.

Sources: Sky Sports and AFP, via Al Jazeera.

Xabi Alonso, Chelsea

10/12. Identity level: Capability.

“Very happy with the result and the performance. We needed one of these away wins where we have played very professional and serious, looking solid.”

“We looked in control of the game. There were moments for sure when we had to defend but overall the team looked mature, knowing what to do in each moment, knowing we would have a moment.”

“That came in the second half and after that we were good with the ball, creating chances, conceding not much. To win away is always tough and we finally got the clean sheet.”

“We need to keep working. It is just one game. If it is just one clean sheet, it will be very poor. We need many more. For sure, the first one of the season feels good. We need to keep going, working and being serious.”

Alonso gets the first clean sheet of the season and sets the bar higher in the same answer. If it is just one clean sheet, it will be very poor, we need many more. That’s a standard his players can act on. Mature, professional, serious, knowing what to do in each moment: those are the group’s SQAs, and he repeats the words often enough that they read as an identity rather than a compliment. Adversity drops to 1 because there isn’t much of a setback in a 2-0 away win and he doesn’t name one. Path is 1 as well. He sets the measure without saying what changes.

Source: Sky Sports.

Brentford 1 – 2 Liverpool

Saturday 17 October 2026, 3pm, Gtech Community Stadium.

Keith Andrews, Brentford

8/12. Identity level: Belonging.

“There’s a lot that went on in the game. I think we were edging it; we were getting into a good rhythm, we were starting to play with a little bit more belief, speed, thought and action and we got ourselves in front.”

“I felt pretty confident. The bench was strong, we were going to be able to make changes as some of the lads haven’t been playing regularly recently.”

“But the sending off changes the dynamics of the game and it’s more of a challenge. We gave them a real advantage.”

The published clip runs to 92 words, so this is a small sample. What’s in it is better than the length suggests. We gave them a real advantage after the sending off puts the problem on one incident and keeps it there, and belief, speed, thought and action is a set of SQAs that stays theirs whatever happened afterwards. Both halves of the Elevate Formula, and he never goes near the referee. We were edging it tells the players the game was theirs before the red card, so the scoreline doesn’t settle what they’re worth. The marks he loses are Towards and Path. All of it points backwards and nobody leaves with a next step.

Source: Sky Sports.

Andoni Iraola, Liverpool

8/12. Identity level: Capability.

“Definitely we got a good battle today. They are very important three points for us because I think it’s very [difficult] to win here.”

“I think Brentford are a very good team, especially at home, and to finish with three points here is very valuable.”

“I think we played really well the minute until we scored 2-1 against 10 players. We were being patient, we were finding good positions and we were controlling the game really well.”

“I’m probably more disappointed after we score because you score for 2-1 and then you feel like you have something to lose. We were playing freely, we were finding good spots, we were sending a lot of players forward, and then you score 2-1.”

“A lot of the players see the chance to score, but we missed clear counters to finish the game.”

Iraola wins at a hard ground and is honest about the dip. You feel like you have something to lose is a sharp bit of self-diagnosis, and it’s Away From language inside his own team, named out loud. Patient, finding good positions, controlling the game, playing freely: those are real SQAs. He credits Brentford properly and doesn’t get carried away with three points. Adversity stays at 1 because the problem he names sits in the players’ heads and he never says it passes. Identity and Path are 1 each. Finish the counters is a wish rather than a plan.

Source: Sky Sports.

Fulham 1 – 0 Hull City

Saturday 17 October 2026, 3pm, Craven Cottage.

Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham

12/12. Identity level: Belonging and Purpose.

“My players believe in our ideas and they play the way that we were playing even when we were losing games.”

“Pressure is a privilege. I am here because I want the best for Fulham, for this club. I want the best for my players. I want the best for my supporters.”

“We were having the same feeling as other matches, when we were controlling the game for long spells and having good chances but didn’t score.”

“Our rivals punish our mistakes or take their chances, but today we were brilliant for 90 minutes.”

“We controlled the game, had many chances and didn’t concede any clear chances to Hull, a very good team. They are tough to beat.”

“I am very happy, especially for the supporters, they deserve this win, for the players, they were looking for this victory and have been working so hard.”

“We deserved it in other matches, but we couldn’t get it; today was finally the day.”

“We have so many players with talent who can score. They will have chances. Players from the bench will be so important for us too. We have many chances and we need to try and take them.”

“This is a massive game for us, a massive week because we have Coventry [City], then Crystal Palace in seven days.”

“It won’t be easy, but we know how we need to play and compete, we have to be competitive in this league. We have our way and hope we can win in many games.”

Fulham had been playing well and losing, and the first thing Arbeloa does is say the players kept to the plan through all of it. My players believe in our ideas and they play the way that we were playing even when we were losing games is an SQA that doesn’t depend on the result. The drought gets treated as narrow and finished, today was finally the day, while the belief stays theirs, so both halves of the Elevate Formula are there. Pressure is a privilege is the Identity line. Coventry then Palace in seven days is the Path, with the timing attached. Last week’s final has gone.

Sources: Sky Sports and beIN Sports.

Sergej Jakirović, Hull City

2/12. Identity level: None reached.

“I told this guy that it was the worst performance since I’ve been here.”

“They were much, much better than us and congratulations to them. They played an excellent game. We were very, very poor. We collapsed together.”

“They must take it because if you are realistic, if you will watch the game again and again, and they will watch, you will see how poor you are.”

“It’s easy to analyse this game; we were out of everything.”

“Fulham were much better than us in any terms, in and out of possession, first and second balls, duels. It was men against boys. We didn’t show anything today. But we cannot change anything now.”

“The performances of Fulham have been good; they should have more points. We knew it would be tough today. We were completely out of it today.”

“It was very frustrating, maybe we had some situations around the box but made wrong decisions. They were much more aggressive than us and could have scored more.”

“In the second half, we showed some reactions, we changed the system, but again, in the last third, nothing. We didn’t have even a shot on target, so it’s a pretty bad day for us.”

“We were so far off from everything. I can say 1-0 is a good result for us. It was a very tough game for us at every moment. They ate us alive.”

Jakirović is honest and generous to Fulham, and his players get nothing to stand on. Men against boys, we were very, very poor, we didn’t show anything today: the problem is them, it’s broad, and nothing in the answer says it passes. That’s the Elevate Formula reversed. We cannot change anything now closes the door on a next step, and watching the game again until you see how poor you are is retrospective, so Path is 0. He keeps a mark for Identity because we collapsed together is a genuine collective and he puts himself inside it, and a mark for taking the result without excuses.

Sources: Sky Sports, beIN Sports and AAP, via The Canberra Times.

Manchester City 3 – 2 Ipswich Town

Saturday 17 October 2026, 3pm, Etihad Stadium.

Enzo Maresca, Manchester City

10/12. Identity level: Belonging and Esteem.

“First of all, I am very happy because it’s a matter of winning games in this business. We were able to win seven in a row and what made me very happy was day-by-day with the players, the way they are working and how I can see them improving.”

“Today I thought we controlled the game, created chances and were good off the ball. We are doing well and I think that’s the most important thing.”

“Absolutely yes but also I understand we give credit to the players. They need to be worried about people inside the club and about me for the credit I give to them.”

“And they are not worried about people who judge from outside because they know people trying to judge them, it’s people who are working who want to create a problem but inside I promise the players are happy, they’re getting credit and I give credit to them.”

“He’s not just scoring, he’s a leader, a captain. He’s doing very well.”

Seven wins in a row and Maresca spends most of the answer on where credit comes from. He tells the players to care what people inside the club think, and what he thinks, and not what people outside are saying. The criticism is Other and it is Fleeting. Set against it is the way they are working day by day, and that is Self, Broad and Lasting. Both halves of the Elevate Formula. Inside I promise the players are happy is the Identity line, and the way they are working is the SQA. Towards and Path are 1 each. Improving day by day is a direction with no standard attached.

Sources: Manchester City and Sky Sports.

Gary O’Neil, Ipswich Town

10/12. Identity level: Belonging and Capability.

“Really disappointed. I did believe we could take points. I’m proud of what the players gave. It takes a lot to come here and keep yourself in the game. This is an incredible group, they gave everything for 102 minutes. It’s a privilege to represent them.”

“The second goal against us is what really annoys me. We’d worked on that a lot. And then maybe some quality in the final third, we weren’t quite good enough in those moments. It just meant we fell a bit short. We’ve still shown everyone we can compete.”

“No. It’s just us against City. Trying to win. Bananas or no bananas. It makes no difference to me.”

Ipswich lose 3-2 at the Etihad and O’Neil’s first instinct is to protect the group. An incredible group, they gave everything for 102 minutes, it’s a privilege to represent them: specific, theirs, and nothing to do with the scoreline. He owns the controllable bit too, the second goal we’d worked on a lot. Bananas or no bananas is the Identity line. Nothing about the occasion changes how they go about it. Adversity drops to 1, because maybe some quality in the final third, we weren’t quite good enough sounds like something the squad hasn’t got rather than something they missed on the day. That’s Lasting, and it undoes the other half. Path is 1 as well. He names the failing without saying what changes.

Source: Sky Sports.

Newcastle United 0 – 1 Aston Villa

Saturday 17 October 2026, 5.30pm, St James’ Park.

Matthias Jaissle, Newcastle United

10/12. Identity level: Belonging and Capability. Second assessed interview of this edition.

“It was a game where we were dominating. Overall I thought I was seeing a team giving a response. We had many situations where you saw that we were going to win that game and then we conceded a goal. We also need to be honest. We were shaky until half-time but then after that we showed a good response after half time. The second 45 minutes were again really aggressive. We won the important duels. Unfortunately we were just not smart enough in our decision making in the final third so that is something we need to improve. There were many occasions where we didn’t find the right pass. Sometimes not the right timing. These things need to be combined pretty soon to be more efficient.”

“It was really fast. The decision-making was clear from the referee. They even checked [VAR] the foul from Sven.”

Five days later, after another defeat, Jaissle sounds like a different manager. A team giving a response, really aggressive, we won the important duels: those are SQAs, they belong to the group and they don’t switch off between games. The failing he names is narrow and technical, decision making in the final third and the timing of a pass, so none of it sticks to the players as character. That’s both halves of the Elevate Formula. He also turns down the easy route on the Botman challenge and backs the referee. Towards and Path stay at 1 because combined pretty soon is a wish rather than an instruction.

Source: Sky Sports.

Unai Emery, Aston Villa

11/12. Identity level: Capability.

“Hard, tough match, but the victory is fantastic. How we compete, how we play when we need it defensively, to feel in our structure, everybody, the commitment we needed. We were working on it in previous matches, in our analysis of how we needed to play, our game plan. Then we could have possibilities as well to dominate, sometimes with the ball possession. Try to impose with our positioning, try to use our skills, our game plan as well in transition sometimes, sometimes through keeping ball possession to stop them as well and to try to dominate. We did it in 90 minutes more or less, more in transition, but we defended well. We conceded not so many chances and we had a very good opportunity to score the second goal to finish the game. But how we are improving, how we are competing, how we are being aware, the things we need to work, I think is the most important how we did today.”

Emery wins at St James’ Park on a hard away day and the whole answer is about structure. How we compete, the commitment we needed, to feel in our structure, we defended well: those are SQAs and a standard in one. Identity takes 2 for the same reason. Competing and commitment are what Villa are, in his telling. The difficulty of the fixture is the problem and he treats it as one afternoon the game plan handled, with the capability staying theirs, so both halves of the Elevate Formula are there. Path is 2. Building the players’ understanding of the structure he wants is the work, and he keeps naming it. Towards stays at 1. The things we need to work is as specific as the future gets.

Source: Sky Sports.

AFC Bournemouth 2 – 0 Sunderland

Sunday 18 October 2026, 2pm, Vitality Stadium.

Marco Rose, AFC Bournemouth

11/12. Identity level: Belonging and Capability.

“Congrats to everyone at the club, to the lads, to our fans. They were really patient the last couple of weeks, even [though] we didn’t get the points out of the game. Important win.”

“We were quite sharp in these kinds of moments and that’s why we have a clean sheet, we scored two goals and we won the game.”

“We were quite dominant, we were intense. I felt even in the locker room and yesterday in training that we wanted to force this win with everything we have. It’s a mentality.”

“If I’m honest, I feel relief, but not just me.”

“That’s what I feel, everyone here in the club, because everyone feels that the work we do is good, that the way we stick together is good.”

“Everyone, everything is in the right place but if you don’t get the results then you have to answer questions. That’s the point.”

“Today we have our first win but we need more and want more. That’s very important because we are still in a tough situation.”

First win of the season and Rose hands the credit straight to the club, the lads and the fans. The work we do is good, the way we stick together is good, it’s a mentality: those are SQAs that don’t depend on results, and he says them while the club is still in a tough situation. The barren run gets treated as a results problem rather than a people problem, so the players keep the credit for the work. Both halves of the Elevate Formula. We need more and want more holds the standard after a win. Path is 1. More isn’t yet a next step.

Sources: Sky Sports and beIN Sports.

Régis Le Bris, Sunderland

1/12. Identity level: None reached.

“It [the league position] is absolutely a worry.”

“If you lose games, then it is clear what is going to happen. We cannot ignore that. We have to win points, and we have to do that in different conditions and different scenarios. We know that. At the minute, it is not the case. It is not happening, and so the reality of the situation is really clear.”

“It was a tough afternoon.”

“It was a bad start, conceding after six minutes, which was exactly the situation we wanted to avoid. By 15 minutes, we were ten men against 11, which meant we had to do that for 75 minutes or even more with the added time. We survived until half-time, changed the shape to manage the game differently, and I think we were well-aligned. But then after one or two minutes of the second half, we were 2-0 down with another big mistake. That basically summarised the afternoon. It was tough to take. It wasn’t the personality of Sunderland, that is for sure. We are in a busy schedule, that’s fair to say, and we are in this learning process. It is not a straight line, but this now is really hard to accept.”

“It’s always a different player every time [making mistakes], so it is hard to fix. There is not really a specific pattern, so it is about accountability, it is about discipline and it is about reading the game well. At the minute, that is not the case and we are getting punished.”

“We were below the level, it’s really clear. It’s hard to take, hard to digest. It’s very painful because we were not Sunderland and it’s not acceptable.”

“We will have ups and downs in the season, this one is a big down. I’m very disappointed for the fans.”

This is the weakest interview of the weekend, and the likely effect on the dressing room is panic. It is absolutely a worry, if you lose games then it is clear what is going to happen, we are getting punished. That is catastrophising, so Towards is 0. It’s always a different player every time, so it is hard to fix tells the players the problem has no pattern and no end, and he names no strength to set against it, so SQAs and Adversity are 0 too. Accountability, discipline and reading the game well would have been a Path if hard to fix hadn’t removed it in the same breath. The single mark is for it wasn’t the personality of Sunderland, a real Identity line with nothing behind it.

Sources: Sunderland Echo and beIN Sports.

Brighton and Hove Albion 5 – 0 Crystal Palace

Sunday 18 October 2026, 2pm, American Express Stadium.

Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton & Hove Albion

12/12. Identity level: Belonging and Purpose.

“It’s just a privilege to be part of this group.”

“The players are incredible. When they face adversity they are always there for each other. They challenge each other, but they also take care of each other.”

“I’m really pleased and happy for everyone who was part of this game today, for everyone who is part of this club.”

“I hope the fans can enjoy the night. It’s a much better feeling than a few months ago when we lost to Palace and that’s why I’m really happy for the supporters and for everyone who was involved.”

“We can enjoy it, but on the other side it’s also very important to stay humble and stay grounded because in football things can change quickly.”

“So we have to have this hunger inside of us to keep going and never be satisfied – to keep pushing.”

“That should be our identity – that we are never satisfied and keep going to get better and better.”

“I’m part of this journey and club and therefore you understand the history of the rivalry and meaning of the game. A few months ago [losing to Palace] we were in a different place and I said I’d keep pushing to get another opportunity to beat them, so I’m happy we did it today. It’s not a one-man show so I credit my players and my staff. Hopefully everyone enjoyed it.”

Five-nil in the derby and Hürzeler spends the answer crediting other people. They challenge each other, but they also take care of each other is the SQA, and it’s an observation about how the group behaves rather than a compliment about the win. When they face adversity they are always there for each other is a capability that is theirs, wide and lasting. Losing to Palace a few months ago is the problem, and he puts it firmly in the past. Both halves of the Elevate Formula. Then he names the Identity outright: never satisfied, keep going to get better. Stay humble and stay grounded is the Path, with tonight as the timing.

Sources: Brighton & Hove Albion and Sky Sports.

Pierre Sage, Crystal Palace

6/12. Identity level: Safety.

“It’s difficult to summarise as there are lots of negative points in the performance. We started really bad. Completely not normal to behind by three in nine minutes. I prepare the team, I’m responsible. I have a lot of work to do. I have to change this kind of thing. I don’t create the conditions for the players to start well. The first work is on me.”

“It’s in the preparation and the way we give them motivation to start the game in the locker room or the warm-up. We have to analyse that because it’s not normal. It’s not the first time so we have to change with the players. I have to take decisions about that. I will talk with my staff about that. We have to improve.”

“Only one feeling – shame. When you play this kind of game you have to show another face. It was our worst face.”

“We cannot accept that, especially at the beginning of the game. We didn’t fight at that moment. Once it was 3-0 after nine minutes, the game was really different.”

Sage takes the whole thing on himself. I prepare the team, I’m responsible, the first work is on me. That earns him the Path mark, because the warm-up and the pre-match motivation is a specific thing he says he will change, and he admits it isn’t the first time. The self-blame doesn’t let the players off, though. We didn’t fight at that moment and it was our worst face both land squarely on them, and he names no strength anywhere to set against it, so SQAs is 0 and Adversity gets one half at best. Only one feeling, shame, is what the dressing room is left with.

Sources: Sky Sports and beIN Sports.

Leeds United 1 – 1 Manchester United

Sunday 18 October 2026, 2pm, Elland Road.

Daniel Farke, Leeds United

10/12. Identity level: Esteem and Capability.

“I wanted to win this game and my boys as well, you could see this outside. We’re even a bit disappointed we didn’t win it.”

“I think we were the better side, the dominant side. It was not necessary to be losing at half-time. If you’re not one moment switched on to track the run and with their quality they can hurt you. We lacked a bit in our decision making in the first half, could have done a bit better and played with more clarity in and around the box. We had this in the second half had the momentum but the problem was there were too many strikes over the crossbar and too many crosses were a bit too long. This situation killed a bit our momentum. This lack of quality in the finishing and crossing was the only thing I could criticise.”

“You always have to be aware it’s still Manchester United and the quality that they have and can bring in. With a counter attack they can still hurt you, and we have not allowed anything in the second half, and for that many compliments to my players for another really good performance and to dominate the performance against Man United.”

“It was a different game today in comparison to some of the last game days – we had to defend a bit like a basketball team, always quick transition moments for Man United and we needed legs. Because they played so deep it was more important instead of going for the genius pass, to threaten them with physicality. It was not the time for our perhaps technical players who can find the easy little pass. We needed a bit more experience and physicality.”

Farke draws with Manchester United at home and is disappointed. That’s a standard being held rather than a sulk. The criticism is tightly bounded: strikes over the crossbar, crosses a bit too long, the only thing I could criticise. Against it he puts the better side, the dominant side and we have not allowed anything in the second half, and those are real SQAs. Adversity drops to 1, though, because nothing he says tells the players the finishing problem is temporary. He makes it narrow without making it Fleeting. Defend a bit like a basketball team tells them exactly what the afternoon needed. Path is 1. He names the fault without naming the work.

Source: Leeds United.

Michael Carrick, Manchester United

10/12. Identity level: Belonging and Purpose.

“There was definitely commitment. It had to be there today. I didn’t doubt that. I was looking forward to the game to see that, there was definitely an edge and intensity to it. I spoke to the boys this morning about the history of this game, what it means to the supporters, to the football club. It definitely tests you. It wasn’t a perfect performance but there was a lot in there to show determination to get a result. We’re not getting too carried away because we didn’t win the game. It felt like a bit of a fresh start today, in terms of where we’re at. The boys are desperate to do well for each other and the club.”

“There was a freshness. We had a different spine, that’s a massive positive for us. A little tweak tactically, not a huge change.”

“Maybe if you talk about top quality, maybe it wasn’t top, top quality I think we are capable of playing. With the results we’ve had we weren’t quite flowing but there’s enough in there to take from it.”

“It’s a bit more than just effort. It is the way you go about it. The plan. The responsibilities. The roles. I thought the boys took that responsibility on really well for the most part.”

“I suppose you’re looking at the togetherness, the spirit, the unit. I don’t doubt that within the group. The way that we went about it today gives me a lot of belief in us moving forward.”

Carrick is a lot clearer than he was a few weeks ago. The togetherness, the spirit, the unit, I don’t doubt that within the group is an SQA, and he says it as a fact rather than a hope. We weren’t quite flowing treats the bad run as a phase. Both halves of the Elevate Formula, and it’s the thing that was missing last time. He spoke to the boys this morning about the history of this game and what it means to the supporters. That’s Identity with something in it. We’re not getting too carried away because we didn’t win protects the standard after a draw. Towards and Path are 1 each. Top quality I think we are capable of playing is still about what they might become one day.

Sources: Sky Sports and Reuters.

Nottingham Forest 0 – 1 Arsenal

Sunday 18 October 2026, 4.30pm, The City Ground.

Oliver Glasner, Nottingham Forest

12/12. Identity level: Belonging and Capability.

“Very tough, to be honest, and it’s a little bit of déjà vu. It’s many games where we feel the result is unfair, but at the end it’s what stands then — yeah, is zero points at home. Very good performance against the champions, really having them in many situations, or they have many problems with the way we did. We couldn’t control, didn’t give them a lot, and at the end here, yeah, going home with zero points is really tough today. Again, it feels a little bit unfair, but on the other side, it’s in our responsibility to not now drop the head. So now really building up on the performance and the many positive aspects, because it feels a little bit weird because it was the third defeat in a row, but I see progress in every single game, and today the effort was amazing. Everything, to be honest. It was just a result that we can’t be pleased with.”

“Oh, yes. Huge credit to the players, yeah, how they stick to the plan, knew exactly what they want to do, and we did so well, and then we had our moments, and of course, if you want to win against the champions, then you have to take these moments, and I think this is what we have to improve, what we have to work on to take the moments, yeah, and we had them, and again, when I see the reaction at the end, and then having three big opportunities in the last seven, eight minutes, where everybody knows how tough and how difficult it is against Arsenal to create chances, so we had many set pieces today, and again, it’s still things to improve, because we have eight corners, yeah, but it’s then take one. We had two great situations of free kicks, yeah, then take one, and I think this is what we have to learn, and this is what we have to improve, and then we’ll get the results we all feel we deserve.”

“Exactly. Yeah, could be, again, I don’t think so. It’s, let’s say when you see their goal is deflected, otherwise you think it’s straight into the arms of Matz Sels, and but you have periods in football where you feel all things going against you, and then there are periods in football where everything falls on your side, yeah? And we are now, let’s say, on the dark side of the medal, and it’s again now how you deal with this situation, how you react as a team, and for me, it’s just one way how we can change this — this is being, staying positive, sticking together, and then working hard, and on the other side, also having this coolness, yeah, not to worry too much, because again, I can see good performances, not good results, and then the results, my experience is the results will come if the performances stay good.”

“Oh, yes. Again, it’s, I had it in, it’s, you never know, because I always say it’s like the stock market, yeah, what the past never tells you exactly what happens in the future. I can just, I know from my personal experience that sometimes it takes a bit, so I remember…”

Glasner loses a third in a row and still gives his players about as much as a beaten manager can. The deflected goal and periods in football where you feel all things going against you put the problem outside them and make it temporary. He doesn’t hide behind it either, because eight corners and then take one is him naming the controllable failing in the same answer. Huge credit to the players, how they stick to the plan, the effort was amazing, I see progress in every single game: those are SQAs, theirs, wide and lasting. Both halves of the Elevate Formula. Staying positive, sticking together, working hard is the Identity. Take one of the eight is the Path, and it is the most specific next action anyone gave this weekend.

Source: BBC Radio Nottingham post-match interview, transcribed. Credit: BBC Sport.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal

9/12. Identity level: Capability.

“We knew the margins would be really small. They are extremely well coached and organised.”

“The longer the game goes on, they gain more belief. We had to be so patient. And clinical when we got the chance.”

“The way they were defending, they were more comfortable. But we have players with different qualities and can adapt to what the game is delivering.”

“We have another three big chances that should be goals. That is the difference, you have to be clinical. If we keep generating chances, they will come.”

“Today, let’s enjoy the win, because it was a very tough one.”

Arteta wins 1-0 at a hard ground and keeps his players looking at the part they control. If we keep generating chances, they will come is Towards language, and it points at the next chances rather than the three they missed. The missed chances are named and bounded, and players with different qualities who can adapt is the capability, so both halves of the Elevate Formula are there. He’s generous about Forest, extremely well coached and organised, and he gives the players the night. SQAs, Identity and Path all sit at 1. Be clinical doesn’t tell anyone what to do differently.

Source: Arteta speaking to Sky Sports, reproduced by beIN Sports.

Carried forward

Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City, Monday 19 October 2026, 8pm, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The scoring week runs Tuesday to Sunday, so Roberto De Zerbi and Frank Lampard will be assessed on that fixture in the Matchweek 8 edition. Lampard appears in this edition for Coventry’s win at home to Newcastle on Monday 12 October, carried in under the same rule.

Back to Premiership Managers Revealed →

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How the scores work

I score six things: a clear aim (Towards Outcome); player strengths (SQAs); how setbacks are explained (Adversity); confidence (Identity); practical next steps (Path); and leadership after a win, loss or draw. Each category is worth two points, giving a maximum of 12. Two points means the language clearly supports the players, one means it offers some help, and zero means it offers little help or risks undermining them.

* Good Winner: using the confidence that comes with a win to help players improve. The manager recognises what worked and gives constructive guidance about what to do better next time.

* Good Loser: helping players keep their belief after a defeat. The manager keeps the setback in perspective, reminds players of strengths they can rely on and gives them a useful next step. Explaining a loss through a specific external event can help, provided the players also hear reasons to believe they can succeed.

After a draw, I look for a balance of ambition, confidence and practical guidance. Crediting the opposition is good sportsmanship, but earns no points by itself. Scores describe the interview reviewed, rather than everything a manager says or does.