Press conference

Emery – We’ll play for those who can't be there

Emery

Having been awarded an allocation of just 6,000 tickets for the Europa League final, the match in Baku will certainly be a different experience.

Unai Emery has stressed that he would like to see more of our supporters at the game, but says his side will keep those who can only watch on TV in their minds for the match.

This is what he told the media:

on not many Arsenal fans being there…

I think our supporters want to come with us and enjoy with us in the stadium because there are not a lot of times you can play in a final in Europe. Every supporter wants to enjoy with the team in this country, but Baku is very far, and they will have to fly because there is not a possibility to drive there. It is expensive too. I prefer to be with them, to enjoy it with them, to have a big atmosphere with our supporters. I know Arsenal has a lot of fans around the world and I think in Baku there will be a lot of supporters from other countries closer to Baku and the stadium will be full with 70,000 people and supporters. But really our supporters in London, who are with us at Emirates Stadium and also in the Premier League, I prefer for them to be with us too in this final.

on how disappointed he is that the final is in Baku...

We can’t speak about that individually, how we feel. But I think it’s most important to think that we want to play the final against Chelsea and we want to show our possibility to win one title. Yes, it’s not possible with Mkhitaryan. It’s not possible with all our supporters, as we want. But the final is very important. It’s a shame that not all the supporters can travel to Baku, but they are going to be here at home, enjoying with us through the TV. We need to know that and play for them.

on whether the game should have been moved to Wembley…

Only this responsibility is with Uefa’s welfare people and we can’t do anything about that. We played the final in Juventus Stadium and the Super Cup final in Cardiff, and the Europa League final in Tbilisi, and I enjoyed it with a big atmosphere from both teams. Now we are going to enjoy it with less supporters from Arsenal and Chelsea, but I hope the stadium will be full with a lot of football supporters, maybe some supporters of Arsenal and Chelsea, and above all I want to play this match with a big atmosphere and with a big emotion in the stadium. We cannot play here in London.

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