Rui Patricio has played every minute of Premier League action to date, with Ruddy featuring in cup competitions, but with one eye on the upcoming FA Cup quarter final, Nuno has given last season’s number one the nod. Revealing the decision in his pre-match press conference, Nuno spoke of the confidence he has in all three of his goalkeepers and is pleased to offer Ruddy the opportunity to impress.
On the John Ruddy decision
“John Ruddy is going to play tomorrow because we consider it’s the right moment to prepare him for what’s coming in front of us. In two weeks’ time we’re going to play the FA Cup, and John Ruddy is going to be in goal. We consider this the right moment to get some game competition and to be stronger.
“We have a lot of confidence in the three goalkeepers we have. Rui’s been playing, John has been playing in the cup and Will Norris until now hasn’t had the chance to play, but in terms of confidence, 100 percent on all three.”
On managing his squad
“Adama will have his chance, naturally. He is improving. Adama came after we’d started the season, he’s been helping the team a lot, sometimes not as much as we’d wish, but he’s been asking a lot of himself to try to improve.
“The thing we don’t do, and I personally don’t agree, is that even though a player doesn’t have competition time, you can’t leave him by himself, we have to stick with the player. We help him in the training sessions push him, not only Adama, but all the players who don’t have too many minutes.
“It's important to stay alongside them because they showed before the quality and talent they have, and we want them for the future because with such a small squad, all the players are so important.
“The momentum of all the players is up and down, when they are not playing, us as coaches must really help them. We have tried to do that with Adama, Helder, Vinagre, Morgan, Saiss, Cav, all these players that haven’t had so many minutes. I will never abandon a player, ever.”
On Helder Costa’s form
“Helder started the season very well, he was one of the most important players in that moment. Now we realise he’s not in his best moment. The talent is there, the quality is there. He wants it, let’s work together and put him back again.”
