Arsène Wenger faced the media ahead of the FA Cup tie against Liverpool. Here are some extra quotes from the boss. For the headlines, visit our Digest page:
on the title race…
It is very open, only Chelsea can lose it because they are in front and all the other teams can win it.
on Liverpool and Spurs being back in it…
Yes, I always said that many teams are in it and it will be very tight until the end.
on why every other manager says they are not contenders…
It's fear to fail.
on what he means by fear of failure…
If you're not in the race you cannot lose it, if you declare yourself not in the race you cannot lose it, it's as simple as that. I think just that our job is to be ambitious and to try to win, and if we do not win to take full responsibility for that. It's as simple as that and that's how I see it. I say that yes we are in it [the title race], yes we will have a go for it, we will absolutely give everything to go for it and if we don't do it I will take responsibility for it, but I just see it like that.
on Liverpool's perceived advantage of not playing in Europe…
If you win and you have no big injuries, it's better you play competitions. On a physical front, it's a huge advantage for Liverpool, but if you give them the choice - 'would you like to play in the Champions League?' - they have not played for seven years in the Champions League so they would say yes.
on Sagna's future…
No, he is not close [to signing]. It's an ongoing process.
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