Press conference

Emery's press conference: read every word

Unai Emery was a relieved man after we scored a late winner to beat Huddersfield Town and extend our unbeaten run to 21 games on Saturday.

Afterwards our head coach faced the media and discussed the victory, Torreira's goal, Mustafi and suspensions.

Read on for a full transcript:

on how satisfying it was to win…

Good evening. I think today was a very important result. We wanted to win this way playing with a bigger rhythm over 90 minutes, but they stopped our rhythm a lot over 90 minutes. There were also a lot of yellow cards, fouls and time wasting. We needed patience and to win by waiting for our moment. In the first half we had chances and maybe a goal, and in the second half it was the same. The goal came later but it’s given us a good result in the end.

on Lucas Torreira’s goal…

Last week he scored and today he scored again. He has quality and his interpretation of the pitch tactically, and his perception in attacking moments and defensive moments. He’s very fast in his mind and his feet too. He can do very good work in defensive moments and, like today and last week, he can also get into the box and score like today.

on whether he’s exceeded his expectations…

We want to break every expectation with all players. He’s improving and working hard every day with a very big commitment, very good behaviour. He also has the commitment every day to learn English. I meet him every day in the dressing room and the first thing I notice is his commitment, his behaviour, and then he has quality and personality too.

on how worried he is about injuries…

We need to finish this week by winning today. We’ve spoken about this and having respect for Huddersfield. We were fine individually and collectively because we did that. We are happy for the three points, to continue in a good position in the table now. The injuries and yellow cards are coming with the matches. The important thing now is two days off for the players now, for us also, then coming back and thinking about Thursday and the Europa League, and for Southampton. The players will be OK and we will prepare for the game with the players to find the same spirit level as today so that every player can help us.

on Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi now being suspended for Southampton…

I need for my mind to take two days off!

on whether Mustafi’s injury was a hamstring…

Yes but I think he will be OK.

on whether Laurent Koscielny will be ready for next week…

Now, I don’t know how we are going to play next week, but we have players. Stephan played at centre back today and had a good performance in Manchester with good commitment. Koscielny is also coming back, Nacho Monreal too. We’ll have players.

on the week of headlines…

Maybe you are speaking about problems outside here, but in the club we’ve been speaking about that. There are no distractions, I don’t want distractions. Today every player had their focus on the match, and it was a tough match. It had a slow rhythm but we won and we deserved to win.

on having three players booked for simulation…

I don’t want simulation from our players, I want more rhythm in the match. The opposition can decide what the rhythm is when they have the ball, and they wanted to play like that. It’s a tough match for that because of the opposition, because they were stopping the play by fouling us in the circumstances. These yellow cards are good because the referee has been able to take the decision.

on whether he can tell us what he said to the players about this week’s headlines…

No.

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