“I can’t say any of the recent conversations, public conversations — whether it’s about wage issues or Zika virus — have filtered into the training environment or onto the pitch. Sometimes there’sside conversations that I have with players, or I’ll meet with the captains, just to keep open lines of communication. But in terms of this group just staying locked on, and the staff staying lockedon, I think we really have been able to filter and shield the distractions of the offside.”

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