Interview

Emery on defeat, Xhaka's return and injury news

Unai Emery faced the media shortly after our defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

The head coach spoke about the match, Granit Xhaka's return and injuries to Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz.

Here's a transcript of the press conference:

on the defeat…

Good evening. I think we deserved more, we controlled the game in the first half, we scored one goal. We, in the first half, were happy for how we took the performance as a team and also individually. In the second half we started the same, we needed to score a goal but we lost the control of the game after 15 minutes and they scored two goals. At the end we changed two players for injuries and we couldn't do some more offensive changes to achieve, and to take fresh players. We didn’t push, we didn’t really take the chances to draw or win this match.

on the motivation of the players…

We need to win and we need to win playing well and take confidence and we did that in the first half. I think we were in the first half in the dressing room speaking about being consistent in the second half. We started the game pushing and started the game being consistent and I think we did that in the first five or 10 minutes, taking the chances to score. We lost the control in the 15 minutes [after half-time] because they also pushed and they scored two goals and then we couldn’t take chances to draw or to win. In this competition we continue to be first [in the group table], we lost a good opportunity to take first position in the group but we continue in that position and we are going to think about the next match, to achieve three points and to make sure that’s possible.

on whether he’s confident that he can turn it around…

Now our moment is not good. We need to win and we need to gain confidence. I think we are better than we are showing, everybody, the players, the coaches and me. Now we lost some confidence and we need to win. Really, the response in the first half was good and we started very well again in the second half. We had two injures with Mustafi and David Luiz and that moment was important because when you’re losing you need some fresh players offensively to change and give the team more options. We couldn’t do that.

on whether he’s concerned about losing his job…

I am thinking first about analysing the game over 90 minutes. Today we improved some things, but it wasn’t enough.

on whether he thinks he will remain in charge…

I am thinking about the next match and analysing that match and the Europa League, and thinking about Sunday and how we can improve and achieve that confidence with the players. The players now are a little down in their feelings, but if we continue and can achieve a performance like the first half, I think that is the way.

on if he feels that his job is 'on the line' if we don't win on Sunday...

But my work and my job is to first analyse, analyse that match in 90 minutes and analyse also how we are in the Europa League and how we are also in our feelings and then prepare for the match on Sunday.

on where he thinks it's gone wrong...

We needed to achieve confidence here and play well. I think we improved in the first half and we improved also some things to make sure of our improvement and take the three points. But we didn't do it all because we lost in 15 minutes the work in the first half. Again, I was speaking with the players after the first half to be consistent. We are going to continue and be positive but really we need also to win. The first for us to recover confidence is to win and to feel better above all here, at home, with our supporters here in Emirates, at home and it's the first match we lost. But really, maybe today we deserved more but it's the first match we lost here.

on Granit Xhaka and if he feels the issue is now behind us...

It's very good news with Granit and the normality. He played, he helped and the supporters also, I think they are also helping him and I think it's good news.

on Mustafi and David Luiz’s injuries...

Yes, I don't know exactly now but they couldn't finish that match and we are going to watch for tomorrow for how they are for Sunday.

on if he accepts or identifies mistakes made by himself in recent results...

Yes. I can understand the criticism about the team, about me. We are not in a good moment and also as a coach, I had that moment also in my career.

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