Erik's press conference: Every word, part one

The Reds face Gary O'Neil's in-form side in the Black Country, just a few days after booking a spot in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 4-2 victory over Newport County.

With recently returned players gaining some valuable minutes on the pitch in South Wales, Erik was asked about the strength and spirit of his squad ahead of the trip to Molineux.

Below you can read, and watch, everything the boss had to say to the media in the first part of his briefing at Carrington. The second part will be published at 22:30 GMT.

Hi Erik, there has been a lot of talk about Marcus Rashford over the last few days. What is the situation there and what has his reaction to it all been?
''So he has taken responsibility and, for the rest, it is an internal matter. Case closed."

How has his reaction been around the training ground though, because he is in the squad against Wolves I presume?
"Like I said, case closed."

In terms of the squad tomorrow, I am guessing Marcus will be in it, but will Andre Onana? Mason Mount, is it too soon for him?
"Mason Mount, it is too soon, yeah. But Andre Onana will return."

Erik, I appreciate you saying 'case closed', but what does it say about the respect that players have for you, that these kind of things keep happening and you keep having to deal with situations that you say are 'an internal matter'?
"It's nothing with to do with that. As I said, let's focus on the game, let's move on and I think the statement is clear. We have to focus on winning football games."

Do you think you are imposing the right discipline on your squad to win football matches, which is clear you need to do now?
"It is nothing to do with that, or me. But in football, you need discipline and that is on the pitch. But also off the pitch, because there is a line between. Every player knows this, every professional knows this and knows what is required."

Do you find it distracting?
"So, as I said, we have to focus on winning football games and that is all that matters. Every top professional knows what is required."

Erik, you got the best out of Marcus Rashford last season. How do you get about getting him back to his best this season? You are going to need him between now and the end of the campaign, as you can't bring another striker in. Is he in the right mindset and does he have the right focus to get back to his very best?
"[In his] last two Premier League games he got two goals and two assists. You see there is a developing bond between Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford. We want to continue that process."

How would you describe the confidence and the spirit in the group at the moment, Erik, with the results that you have had lately? What are the targets you have for the rest of the season?
"I think we are quite confident because on our best days, we can beat anyone. But on our worst days, we go down to certain limits of what is not acceptable, so we have to push our limits to higher levels. So that, on our worst days, we still get our results in. Then we know that, at our best, we can beat anyone and everyone in the squad is very convinced about this. Also, they know that, with players coming back and returning from injury, from long-term injuries, the team will be stronger and also that helps the motivation and it helps the mood and the spirit in the team."

Obviously, like you say, there have been matches this season where it has been really high. There have also been matches where it has been very low, so, going to Wolves, do you know what to expect from your team more now? Are they more stable than at other points?
"Every game we have to see as a final. Every game we have to get the best out of it and this team has so much experience, they know that. I am quite positive that we now have our players back, although some need minutes and match rhythm, but I think the line into this game is good. We had a [behind-closed-doors] friendly game, a cup game and now you go into a Premier League game, so the build-up for those players [is good]. We now have to make the next step as a team and also help some individuals get back to their best form."

Erik, how important is it to have those players back now in the squad, because the competition for places in the first half of the season wasn't there because of so many injuries. Players are now coming back from long-term lay-offs so the second half of the season is now surely on for that chase for the top four?
"[This is] clear. We have to catch up on first place. Players know that but the team will be stronger and when you miss players in crucial positions that weakens your team. Especially when you have to swap every game almost, that doesn't help the routines in the way of play and that is also what we have seen from some misunderstandings. First of all now is keeping the players fit and second is getting them into better form. The third is that we keep that and then the results will be better."