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Emery's post-Rennes press conference: every word

There were plenty of questions for Unai Emery following our 3-1 defeat in Rennes on Thursday night.

From red card discussion, to his tactical selections and use of substitutions, it all came up in Unai's post-match press conference.

Here is the transcript of what he said: 

On being in control until the red card...

Good evening. Yes, more than we wanted. The first 40 minutes I think we controlled, we scored and we didn't concede good chances to them. But after this red card, it's different. It's more than we wanted and I think we can do better. But the result is for the first match and for the first 90 minutes. 3-1 is hard for us, but we are going to start the next match, next week with 11 against 11 and with the same respect we have had in the first half, the first 40 minutes. We are going to do that at home against them. But we need to also change our performance and I have the confidence with our players, with our supporters helping us to create one big atmosphere to give us a good spirit against them to comeback.

On why he played Mkhitaryan at right-back rather than Maitland-Niles...

Well, first and mostly, because we were coming after the last match in Southampton with a very big performance like this full-back. And after this red card, first I wanted to keep the positioning with the players because in the second half we needed fresh players to help more in offensive moments, to take chances, to take options. We really didn't create a lot of chances to score the second goal, but I think Micki worked very well and with a good performance. I think there is no problem with Micki, and for example, his 40 or 50 minutes playing like a right-back, he played well.

On being asked to clarify why he didn't use Maitland-Niles...

Because we only had three changes and we needed to decide what were these changes. Micki, I think, is playing well. If he was not playing well then maybe we could think to do this change.

On if he thinks that Sokratis deserved his red card...

I think we changed more than we want, but a red card can come. Two yellow cards and it's the referee's decision. After, I think we must learn to play - when it's coming like today - with one less player on the pitch. Not a good experience today, because we couldn't do our work in difficult moments, in difficult minutes, with one less player, like we wanted. I think we can do better. I am positive in the first 40 minutes because I think, with respect to them, we imposed our gameplay in these moments. We can maybe score a second goal because we deserved to, but after it is really very different in the match. I cannot say to Sokratis because he has very good commitment, he has very good behaviour and he received two yellow cards in two actions of playing. But we are going to think, for the next week, we are going to start 11 against 11, without Sokratis and without Lacazette, but we have players. Like the first 40 minutes, we can do it with our supporters also, to have the possibility to come back. But we know this result is not good. It is bad and it is going to be tough for us. But we need to do with focus and with our players, this possibility to come back.

On Lacazette, Torreira and Sokratis all being sent off in recent weeks and if that suggests a discipline issue...

No. I think it's not easy. 

On if he's not concerned by three red cards in quick succession...

We can analyse these three red cards individually.

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