A ROYALS love affair, new signings, a third operation for Jordan Obita, January departures, Bolton Wanderers, owner Dai Yongge and more – here is very word from Reading FC boss Jose Gomes today.

Royals’ boss spoke to local media at length at Hogwood Park this morning – while in the background Chelsea defender Matt Miazga was completing a medical and signing on loan for the remainder of the season.

Reading may not have a fixture this weekend, but Gomes covered a whole host of topics ahead of next Tuesday’s crunch relegation six-pointer at Bolton Wanderers.

And before fans suggest it is too early to dub it a ‘six pointer,’ even Gomes himself agrees it is.

Here is a full transcript of today’s press conference.

Jose Gomes on a 10-day break between fixtures:

“It’s definitely been an advantage. We’ve had more time to share our ideas with them which is very important. We arrived in the middle of the festive period. It was tough because it was difficult to train with the players but now we are training for longer with more time between games.”

Results so far and style of play:

“I have the luck and honour to manage the players. They have really bought into the ideas and philosophy and they are happy to train and play like that. When players are happy they pick up things quickly.

“When you watch training the intensity, happiness and passion is amazing, they show it every day and in the games. We just need to start and finish matches playing the same way.”

Is he a psychologist as much as a coach?

“Part of our mission is to help players psychologically to be better. Other managers may say differently but I believe you can always give more, give your maximum, if you really like what you are doing. I know it’s going to be a hard path until the end of the season, but I’m the players will give their maximum.”


What to expect from Bolton next Tuesday:

“I expect a similar style to other teams, the nearest is Millwall who are another tough, direct team. They press very high, close down the space and don’t let their opponent play. It will be difficult but we know how they play and what we must do to take the points.”

Is it a six-pointer?

“Yes, I agree with that. Of course, this game will not decide what will happen in the future, but I agree it’s a six-pointer because we are fighting for the same thing. With all respect to the Bolton manager and players, we must play to win.”

Looking forward to it?

“I love football and I love big challenges. When I accepted the Reading job I knew the great passion of our fans, the pressure we have near the bottom of the table and the quality of players at the club.

“I left my team who were fighting for European competitions to come to a club fighting to stay in the English second division because I believe in these players and this project.

“I believe in the club and to tell you the truth I am really in love with Reading Football Club.”

New signings Nelson Oliveira and Emiliano Martinez:

“The idea is to improve quality and give us more solutions, now we have two more. Both will be very important for the future and maybe today or tomorrow we will announce another player (Miazga).”

Reading Chronicle:

Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez joins Reading on loan.

Gomes confirmed Oliveira and Martinez will both be in contention for the clash at Bolton on Tuesday: “These two players yes, the new player I am talking about (Miazga), we will see.”

More players set to leave this month?

“The idea is the same. You want players to feel part of the team but if you have too many it is difficult. If you are out of the squad for four or five weeks it is difficult to keep your motivation and give your maximum. We will see what happens.”

Injury update:

“Sam Baldock, no. Paul McShane is training with us, Ovie Ejaria has a small injury but serious. Since the last game he hasn’t training until today, he felt his abductor, like a cramp, so I don’t know if he will play. The same happened to Omar Richards.


“Yakou Meite is better and will start training with the team next week. Saeid Ezatolahi is in the medical department and hasn’t trained with the team. You have to take some injuries day-by-day.

“John O’Shea is back training, running and exercising with the ball but he is not training with the team. Maybe he is a week away. Tom McIntyre is training but isn’t playing, he needs more time. He cannot head the ball yet. I don’t know when he can train freely. He had a very serious injury.”

Jordan Obita facing third knee operation:

“Jordan will have an operation next week. It’s normal when a player has two operations to go for a third one. He’s thought a lot about it, and he will have the operation.

“I spoke with him as I like to go to the medical department every day to shake the injured players’ hands and see how they are.

Reading Chronicle:

Jordan Obita will have a third knee operation next week.

“Jordan is suffering more than anybody but at the same time he is set in the idea that he must go this again and recover again to try and be ready for pre-season.

“Even when you are young it is not easy being out of the team for so long, it is very tough for him. We need to help him.”

On training methods:

“The truth is I really push them very, very hard. I don’t know another way to achieve the goals we want, we must work hard. Sometimes these things (injuries) can happen, but the only way is to push the players to give their maximum.”

What will he do this Saturday?

“I will watch what game I can and keep an eye on results.”

Gomes reflects on his first month as Reading FC boss:

“It is not easy because there are no easy games in the Championship. My mission is not easy, it will be a long, tough path until the end of the season. I believe we will achieve our goals and hopefully soon. But it will be difficult until then.”


The need to improve results:

“That is what we need, like we did against Nottingham Forest, by starting the game well, but winning. We don’t what to show good technical skill or have 70 per cent possession like we did in the second half at Derby, but not win games. Saying that, I believe that playing well will give us more chances to get three points.”

Poor start at Derby County last weekend in the 2-1 defeat:

“Our offensive organisation is too start playing a passing game. If you give the ball to your colleague you must help the pass line or your colleague must create the pass line. We didn’t do this dynamic properly, the players didn’t move properly or show themselves to the pass lines so it is easier for the opponent to stop us.


“I told my players if something goes wrong and we suffer a goal or lose a game where we played like we train, there is only one person responsible and that is me. But if we play out of that process, don’t want the ball and are afraid to play I kill my players, and they know that. During games we are playing out of our process for fewer minutes now but we must be ahead of things in all our games. This is the challenge we have for the next match.”

Admiration for Nelson Oliveira, who is yet to play a first-team game this season for Norwich City due to a fall-out with manager Daniel Farke:

“Even if you are working in training it is different to playing games, we cannot hide this. But he has quality and the good thing is he is not tired because he hasn’t played. I’m sure he will be a fantastic help for us.”

Options up front with Nelson Oliveira, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Yakou Meite and Danny Loader all fit and available, but Sam Baldock injured and Marc McNulty out of favour.

“The idea is to focus on the good things we are doing. Sometimes we can play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, but more important than the system is the dynamic and the way the players move and receive the ball to create space and cause problems. When the referee blows the whistle you cannot see a system any more because of the movement.”

How difficult is it moving players on in the January transfer window?

“I suppose so but I don’t know how difficult. I cannot quantify because the board of directors are working on this. We will see if they can do something.”

Have you spoken to the club’s Chinese owners recently?

“I have spoken once when I arrived and maybe we will speak again after the Aston Villa game.”

Is Mr Dai Yongge happy?

Reading Chronicle: Dai Yongge.jpeg.jpg.gallery.jpg

Reading FC co-owner Dai Yongge.

“If I was in his position, for sure I wouldn’t feel happy with the situation. If you invest in a club and give everything the club needs like he is doing and you are near the bottom of the table, I wouldn’t be happy in his position. I am sure he is feeling the same thing, yet he is helping the club a lot. He wants more for everybody at Reading especially the supporters, and we will give more.”

Success of Reading Under 23s this season:

“I have been working with up to four players each training session and I have watched one live game here. I can’t say I know the players very well but I have to understand which ones are the best and can stay at the club in the future. There are some very interesting players.”


Reasons for staying in Reading to train this week:

“It’s better to keep the same routine and cut down on travel. I prefer to work very hard and give the players a day off to be with their families. We are training Saturday, Sunday and Monday then travel.”

On pushing players:

"It’s the only way I know. If you need to give more in a game you nee to be used that and the place you do that is at training. We