We showed character to come back from two goals down, but Unai Emery was left with a sour taste in his mouth after Marcos Alonso’s late winner for Chelsea on Saturday.
Our head coach discussed our performance, Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka in his post-match press conference.
Read on for a full transcript:
on two defeats from two and what his assessment is…
Good evening. We spoke before the match that we needed to improve and to do one process, to be competitive in each match and to know or learn in the match. At the moment, that can happen. I think today, the team already after 2-0, the reaction was very good. In the first half, I think we created more chances to score and I think the 2-2 is a shock for us because we created more chances to score. In the second half, we had less moments in the match and we conceded more chances for Chelsea to score the third goal. For that reason, we need the balance but the result is like that. Our process is to just continue to improve the things, doing more with the balance of the defensive moments and attacking moments and also with the younger players with their passing. At the end of the match, we finished with two midfielders who were Lucas at 22 years old and Matteo at 19 years old. It’s clear, we need to win because we have a big responsibility to win the match and I think for continuing, in the next match in the Emirates against West Ham.
on how he felt about our second-half performance…
First, I am calm when I see my team creating chances. Goal or no goal, we need to continue working. For example today with Auba, I know with the attacking players you have maybe one moment not scoring three chances and then maybe they are going to score three less clear chances. With that, I want to do the balance between the attacking and the defensive moments because I think we conceded a lot to Chelsea and in the second half we need to keep control of the match, with the ball and with the positioning. I think maybe in the second half we lost the positioning in the pitch and were too deep in some moments.
on whether Mesut Ozil can be a central part of his system…
We need him. He helps us with his quality and also I want to push him to be competitive in every match. I am happy with Mesut because he worked hard. I decided to change it because I think we needed a little more of a push in the middle, so that we couldn’t let Chelsea progress easily with the ball. We were defending too deep and we needed a push, so for that I brought on Aaron to push up more and recover the ball to continue attacking. I am happy with Mesut. With him I am going to do the same work, help him and demand also that he works every day. At the moment he is doing that and I am happy. In the process, he is one player that I am sure is going to have a good season.
on why he took Granit Xhaka off…
This is a tactical decision because he also had a yellow card. We didn’t want to take the risk with the yellow card and we wanted to give a chance to other players we have in the middle.
on why he didn’t shake hands with Sarri after the match…
No, I waited in the dressing room to give the handshake.
on how he feels after the first two games…
Calm. I think we need to keep the players calm and continue working. I know we need to improve things, I know we need to push the players to work with our ideas. But for me, there are many positive things in the first match against Manchester City. It’s clear that at the moment we are at a difference from them. Then today, I think the team have worked and had chances in the match. And then with the young players it is a process. They are playing and they are growing every touch with their quality and our demanding.
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