Press conference

‘Everyone wants to play games like these’

Emery

Unai Emery is no stranger to the Europa League semi-final, having successfully negotiated this stage of the competition in three successive seasons en route to a hat-trick of titles in charge of Sevilla.

He also reached the last four while managing tomorrow’s opponents Valencia, back in 2012.

The importance of the occasion has been ramped up even further since the first leg at Emirates – Sunday’s defeat to Brighton has left the Europa League as our only viable route back into the Champions League. 

“We are in this competition with that opportunity tomorrow,” Emery said during his pre-match press conference. “With big ambition, a strong mentality and full motivation we can do it. 

“Every worker in football, every professional, wants to play matches like tomorrow to try to get to a final,”.

“I am going to try to transmit to my players to enjoy it, to be focused and to take this experience like a positive in each moment and each minute and also to be thinking that we are playing for our supporters.”