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Emery on his first XI and the transfer deadline

Emery speaks to the press

Will Lucas Torreira and Stephan Lichtsteiner get the nod against Manchester City? Will there be any comings or goings before the transfer deadline? And who will be our No 1 at the start of the season?



 

Unai Emery was asked all those questions in his post-match press conference in Stockholm. Here’s how he answered them:

 

on whether his new signings have a chance of playing against Manchester City…

It’s a different match today for Lichtsteiner, Xhaka and Torreira. We want to give them these minutes for fitness and also so that they’re working together and tactically can start to work with us. In the first week it’s clear that they’re not at their best physically, but we want to continue working with them and if they are OK physically, mentally and in their performances, and better also than other players who were working with us, we could choose them in the first XI.

 

on what he learnt from the Lazio game…

Each match is giving us information to continue to improve and continue to develop. Today we played with 4-4-2, to try this system and tweak our mentality, style and ideas, but for me in the first half the possession with the ball and control with the ball wasn’t as good as I wanted. It’s for that reason that we started the second half with three midfielders. I think in the second half we controlled the match better with this system. Today we tried in the second half and second half to choose the best system with the best players and best ideas, but I’m happy with this performance because they are working very well and improving also.

 

on whether he will sign anyone before the window closes…

My focus is on the first match and preparing, and not for the window and the possibility to sign another player. Maybe we need some players to leave because we have lots in the squad, but at the moment, my one focus is on our work.

 

on who his No 1 will be…

The best for the team is to have the best goalkeeper with the best performances. Every match we’ve had good performances from Petr Cech and Bernd Leno and also from Emi Martinez, and for that I am happy. I am on the lookout for who will start in the first XI.

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