When he made his comments, he wasn't in charge of IX at that point.
There's a big difference between liking it and having to follow it up.
Going in to both 3 and 6, there were major things to wrap up. Going into 9, ehhh...not so much. Rey has to take down Ben (again), The resistance has to face the FO and win. Nothing there is 'i can't wait to see that'. We've actually seen 1/2 of it already, and frankly, 2/2 when you consider the blew up starkiller in 7.
There aren't any really big anticipatory moments for IX for people. Not to bring up the arugment again, but IF Rey's parentage was going to be different, that'd be something. If they actually to fight snoke, that would be something. But the big payoff moments pretty much have been done. Plus, as they've basically said, there was no plan in place (which is mindboggling) for the overall story arc. Just do WTF you want.
Luke has lit the spark for a rebellion/resistance to flourish....if it all ended with 8? What more is their that people really want to see wrapped up in 9 that would be catastrophic if never happened? I don't see much. That doesn't mean they can't come up with some good things, but I don't see any trilogy topper stuff here. Clearly, nothing was conceived ahead of time...so, seriously....what's left?