Unai Emery had to apparently sit his Arsenal players down and explain to them the importance of winning the Europa League!
“The first idea I had to transmit to the players this season was that we are going for it in every competition. We know we are in the Europa League. We needed to feel its importance as a competition.
“But when we started to play the first matches, some players preferred to play in the Premier League. I explained then to every player that we needed the same focus on every competition – that I will decide when you are going to rest, or not.
“What I didn’t want was a player thinking: ‘I won’t play today,’ and yet when we arrive at the semi-final or the final you say: ‘I’m here to play.’ No. I want you here. I want you ready to play – and you will be ready to play throughout this season.”
“The focus all the season is in this competition with a big focus and a big ambition to do something important. And to feel this competition like we want it.
The team has focused on this competition and is thinking about doing something important.”
Speaking abour Chelsea and Sarri, he said, “I appreciate him a lot. He’s a very good coach. When you watch one of Chelsea’s matches, you know he’s the coach – you can see Sarri’s identity.
“When I see Chelsea, I see a good team, a good coach, a good way of playing. I have learnt watching Sarri’s matches at Napoli and at Chelsea.”
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