Unai Emery was asked about Mesut Ozil’s availability ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley.
Our playmaker came off the bench at Southampton last weekend, but was not part of our matchday squad for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
Emery fielded questions about Ozil during Friday’s pre-match press conference. Read on to find out what he said:
on how frustrated Ozil is to be missing games…
Every player wants to play and be okay to help the team when we need. The frustration is the same for everybody when they didn’t play in a match. But I spoke with him and with the regularity in the season, I am telling him what we need from him and he has the commitment to help us and the quality and the characteristics to help us when the team needs his moments in the pitch in one game. Tomorrow he is in the 18 players, in the squad.
on whether he has spoken to Ozil individually…
But I spoke with every player. With Mesut, with Jenkinson, with Mo, with Petr Cech, with Auba. With every player. Sometimes individual, sometimes with the group.
on whether it really was a tactical decision in midweek…
Yes.
on whether he likes Ozil and wants him to play…
I want every player with a good mentality to help us and give us their characteristics and quality. We need Mesut Ozil.
on whether he has a future here…
Yes, why not?
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