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Jason Knight press conference | Southampton vs Bristol City · Bristol City

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Well Jason, nice to to see you.
• 0:01
  SPEAKER_01: I I guess y just the summer as a whole, has it been a a bit strange?
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_01: Actually, how's it been for you?
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um well, probably the only one that hasn't changed a lot to be fair.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um like you say, there's been a lot of change and a lot of new things going on at the football clubs, which is exciting.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, it hasn't really affected me too much.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Um I was obviously away with Ireland, came back, just done preseason as normal.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it's it's been okay for me, but obviously there's been a lot of change um for the club as well.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: And and a lot of talk about sort of your future and and what was going to happen and those kind of things.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: Footballers tend to be quite good at sort of putting that to one side.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_01: Do you find that easy?
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: I think so, yeah, because like you say, you're in here day to day, you don't really um get caught up in a lot of talk, and but I obviously see it.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not uh I'm not oblivious to what's going on, but like you say, it's it's quite easy for footballers just to crack on, especially like at the moment when things are going okay, it's it's easy enough to crack on.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and so I'm sure you you've had conversations with your agent in terms of of your future and what you're looking to do.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_01: The statement came out and I think it made it pretty clear.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_01: But has that been your plan for a while that you've sort of known, or is it just the the discussions have gone and not quite got to where you want to get?
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_01: Just talk us back through the the process of how we've ended up here, I guess.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's fair.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think especially with like like I say, the the change of the club, the club wanted to be a bit front-footed and give fans and and everyone that information, which is which is fine.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: I was I was totally um totally up for that as well.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um like you say, the statement come out, um and I think from what I've heard, I'm not too much into social media, but I've I've heard the the fans have taken to it quite well.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: But um yeah, I just think we just haven't reached an agreement yet, and that that's natural in football.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um I'm not saying that's ever gonna happen or it's not gonna happen, it's just we're just not there at the moment, and and the football is sort of taking priority because it's it's a championship, you don't really get a minute either way to sort of to sit down and chat about it.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: But we're we're both aligned and happy where we're at at the moment, and then maybe down the line we'll we'll try and sort things out.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: So is that kind of on pause for the moment until you know later in the year and you're just focusing very much on three points on a Saturday or Tuesday?
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: I think so.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, look, there's always talks and there's always discussions ongoing, but I think the first and foremost is the football and and making sure I perform and the team and the club does well first.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't think my contract is is at the forefront at the moment.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_01: No, and I think that's why the fans you write, they took the statement well because they see you out on the pitch, you know, pretty much every Saturday, every Tuesday night, and and they know what you're giving out there, and they know that realistically that's not likely to change whatever your contract status.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, look, I think we have a good relationship, me, the club, the fans, that they know what they're gonna get from me more often than not.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um and it ain't gonna change whether things get agreed right tomorrow or or down the line.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: It's just um it's just it's just gonna be the same.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Jason Knight there captains the club and and tries to do well for the for the football club as as it has been before.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and and sort of away from the specific stuff, but as a club and as a team at the moment, it's five games in, nobody's gonna get carried away.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: But but you must be looking at what you've done so far and thinking we've done well, there's still a lot of improvement to make.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_01: Actually, there could be something happening here.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, look, it it's always important to start well, and we certainly have.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think the lads we've brought in have really hit the ground running, which always doesn't happen.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: I think as we go through the season there will be ups and downs, especially with the younger players.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: But um, like I said, it was important to start well and just try and keep that ball rolling as much as we can.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: We've always got a really tough game on Saturday, so it's going to be tough to go there and get ours up, but we're confident we want to go there and try and finish this little period before the international break off as strongly as possible.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: And nice for you to get your uh your goal, it'd been a little bit of time, which you know in your career so far at City, you'd not really have to wait too long between them.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: No, no, and it's I certainly don't want to be waiting too long in between the next one.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so it's something I'm always trying to improve.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: I'm trying to score as many goals and get as many assists as I can.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: I know maybe sometimes I'm playing a bit deeper or or what, but it's still important for midfielders to add goals to their game.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: So it was a it was a good moment and it was a good result in the end.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and and certainly for you from set pieces, I mean it's it it's such a strength of yours in the air that that's something that I'm sure you you feel you can add to in terms of of goals between now and the end of the season.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: I think this year we've we've added a bit of power as well in in both boxes, so we certainly have more guys who are who are getting on the end of corners, free kicks what while you have it.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um so maybe us smaller players get freed up a little bit more and it gives us more of an option.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: But like you say, I I do fancy myself from set pieces, so it's it's an avenue I want to get a few more goals and assists from.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and and talking about in front of goals, it not that you haven't had players that haven't been capable and have scored lots of goals in the past, but you look like you've got some real options there, and and so far you're you're a proper threat in front of goal, whoever you're playing.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: Like I think so.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: We've we've like we say, we've brought in Tolly, uh Dom, they've they've started really well, they've got a few goals between them, um they continue, but like the likes of Elijah brings his experience, he he was involved in the in the weekend, so they're gonna be really valuable for us going forward, especially that with the delivery we've got out wide at the moment.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's it's a really big part of our game how we can hurt people on transition and in set pieces as well.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: So good start to the season.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: Next chance to do something about that is uh is Southampton away, which is always a tough game, but actually it's a place you've had some pretty good performances recently.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so, but um I think it's it'll definitely be one of the tougher places in the championship to go.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: So we're we're we're full of confidence, but we've obviously got huge respect for what they can they can hurt us with.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: But hopefully it'll be a good game and a good game for the fans.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: I know it's a it's a solid out crowd, so looking forward to going down there on Friday.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you very much.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um I knew you'd spoken about the summer.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_02: I just wanted to ask, kind of like looking back at last season, I think it was quite a frustrating one for a lot of um people at the football club.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_02: What would looking back now?
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_02: How do you kind of assess 12 months or something?
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: I just think it was one of those seasons where it was just there was too many ups and downs.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think maybe a little bit like this season, we started quite well and then hit a bit of a lull.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: Certain things happened, got a quite a lot of injuries at at one specific time, and we just we just struggled for a period, and then we we got back on towards the end, obviously, when Roy came in and we got a couple of good results, but we wanted to be in and amongst it towards the end, and we really weren't weren't there.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: So that was that was probably the frustrating thing for for us as players and the fans, um, especially off the back of the year before where we were we were in the in amongst the playoffs and we got in the playoffs at the end.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: I think everyone wanted to make that next step, but that that football sometimes we just we just didn't get there, but we certainly putting a first front our foot forward this year and try and do uh one better.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_02: I know it's a bit of a cliche as a player, as a as a leader.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_02: Do you learn more from those sort of experiences?
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_02: How does that help your development when you have those sort of sticky patches you mentioned?
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, look, I've I've been around the championship probably probably too long.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um so I've I've been in these periods loads of times and and will be again.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, you just you just got to grind them out.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: And there's gonna be periods like this this year.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: We don't maybe pick up a win for two or three games, you just you just gotta stick together.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: Fans, players, staff, um, and just just get through it like like we always did and we always will.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um because I know we're in a good spot now, but it doesn't last forever.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: We want to keep that going, obviously.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_00: But you just gotta stick together, and that's when we'll really be tested when we're in a tough period.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_02: I wanted to ask you a little bit about your relationship with Michael because you've also had a fair few different managers in your time here.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_02: What have you made of him so far?
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_02: He's spoken really highly of you both as a player and a leader.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: No, I'd I'd say the same with him.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: He's he's obviously coming from Lincoln, done an incredible job last year, and you can see straight away he's a he's a winner and he wants us to be winning games as much as possible.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_00: I think he's he's brought in his certain style as well.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: We're a bit more front-footed, and obviously bring that physical side to our game as well.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: But when we need to, we can control it as well and um and hurt teams like that.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: So I think he's been great.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, the results the results back that up.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I've got to say, on a day to day, he's been he's been fantastic with us players, as is his staff as well.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_00: But um, you know, good good start, I would say.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_02: You mentioned you were away with sort of Ireland and then you've come back for pre-season.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_02: What is that period like as a player when you know there's a change of management over the summer and you do kind of return to the building, and this it does feel like the start of a new chapter.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: I think so, yeah.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: I think I think it it was it was a clean slate for everyone, especially like it wasn't just the manager who changed.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, with Charlie the CEO, James the sporting director now, there's been um there's been a really clear-cut focus on where we're going as a club.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think that that's positive for everyone.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think like I say, it's a clean slate for not just players for but everyone involved in football clubs.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: So hopefully everyone puts the the first front forward and we keep keep going in the right direction.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_02: Does that sort of excitement that I think the fan base have feel does that same sort of feeling happen in the change room where you know you you you have that sort of thing of okay, it feels like we're set up in a really good way here on and off the field?
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, look, this football club has is always been in a good state when I've since I've come in here.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: But like I say, results sort of um amplify the feeling, and I think there is a really good feeling around the club at the moment.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: You see the fans at Burnley, really good atmosphere, especially after the the winner from you.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: So we just want to keep that going.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Results breed confidence and and the same um stuff going forward.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: So, like I say, we're gonna need them throughout the season.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's we're only five games into a 46 game season, so it's there's gonna be ups and downs, but we're really enjoying the relationship and the atmosphere at the moment.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_02: In terms of your role when you've got that much of that many new players in in the group, I imagine you that likes Jay Williams, Jeb Wallace, even as a senior player, got important roles to play.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, no, look, we we've we've still got a really good core of players who have been here, done it, um, got a lot of experience playing for Bristol City and playing in the championship.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that was important as well.
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_00: And now you've got hungry young um players coming in wanting to prove themselves.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_00: So I think there's a really good balance there.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: It's just trying to put that balance together every week, which is kind of the difficult part.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_02: I wanted to ask you a little bit about playing with Joe Williams again as well because it feels like a long time since that playoff season where you guys were playing regularly.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_02: How much have you enjoyed having him back alongside you?
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: No, I I love Joe.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_00: Like you say, we played together quite a lot.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_00: I know obviously for certain reasons or whatever, it's it hasn't happened um too much since then.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: But I think everyone loves Joe.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: He's he's sort of the scous for Stalin, isn't he?
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_00: So um everyone loves everyone loves his all actions, you know.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, and that that's a big part of Brussels City.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: I think he he represents Brussels City quite well.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_00: So uh yeah, it's great to have him back in there, and it creates a great depth in midfield.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: There's a real strong competition with myself, Rands, um, Gibson.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, Brian who's come in as well.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_00: So there's there's good challenging there for us all to be playing.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_02: I think Brian's kind of building up, but what have you made of him so far?
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_02: How's he sort of slotted into the group?
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: Starting quite well.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um he's been good, he's he's talking, he's he's obviously played a little bit last year for Oxford, so he know he knows the level, um, and you can see his quality straight away in training.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: So I think he'll be he'll be valuable valuable for us coming forward.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_02: I think Michael mentioned that when he came in, he spoke to a few of the senior players, and one of the things they mentioned was that I guess need for greater competition, someone after your shirt.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_02: Is that something you kind of mentioned when you spoke to him?
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, I I I thought it was important that we we travelled with a not just a bigger squad but a more strength in depth squad this year from going from last year when a couple of injuries hit us really hard at times.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_00: I thought it was important for us to really strengthen up the whole squad as a as a whole.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and to be fair to Charlie, James, obviously the owner as well, they've really really backed um the manager in that.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: So hopefully we can keep that way.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_02: It keeps everyone on their toes in a good way, I imagine, as well.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, quite look uh we're definitely in a in a really good spot now in squad-wise, where we've got quality in in basically every position.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um so I think that can be a good a good point for us going forward.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: When there is going to be injuries or a loss of form in players, someone's there to step in and help out.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_02: And they're third in the season, but what have you kind of made of how the league sort of started so far?
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_02: I think that top eight now being the playoffs has probably added that almost even more uncertainty to what's already a mental division really.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, okay, we wouldn't want to be guessing where people are going to finish at the end of the season.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_00: You you see Burnley at the bottom of the table now.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: I wouldn't be putting too much money on and finishing there.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: So it's uh it's just game by game.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_00: Like I say, we we go to a team on Saturday that are going to be there thereabouts come the end of the season, so it's it's gonna be tough.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: But we're we're going there with full confidence off the back of three good results um and try and make it four.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_02: It's a chance to kind of send a bit of a message as well.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_02: I imagine if you go to beat Southampton a bit like going up to Burnley, and if you get a result there it says a lot about where this team's at.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it would just be a progression.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: I think a statement was probably a bit early for that, but I think it would be definitely a a really good step in the direction we want to go beating the teams like Burnley, Southampton away.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's important for us to pick up points there and and try and get on the roll going forward.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_02: You mentioned the scenes at the end of the Burning game as well.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's 3,000 travelling fans or something like that on Saturdays.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_02: The support's been special, I imagine, drives you on you guys on a lot on the pitch.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's been amazing.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I look back to last week, it was it was a tough week for us traveling wise, and and we travel quite well.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: So I've got to say to the fans, thank you, because not many times are you gonna go to Preston and and Burnley in the same week.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and they made a really, really big effort, and and they got us over the line in in tough moments, especially up in in Preston early on.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_00: So um I'm delighted we got the win for them and hopefully we can just keep going.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_02: Best of luck, Saturday.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.