'We deserved more, we didn't deserve to lose'

Unai Emery felt we "deserved more" than to lose to Sheffield United on Monday night.

 

A first-half goal from Lys Mousset condemned us to defeat at Bramall Lane - our second loss of the Premier League season.

Afterwards our head coach faced the media, and this is what he said:

on a disappointing night…

Good evening. Yes, we’re very disappointed with that result. There is the result, and secondly is how we managed the 90 minutes in the match. Really I think we created more chances than them, the better chances, but tonight we didn’t achieve the efficiency to win that match. We conceded more corners to them than we wanted, and from one they scored. Also, when they are pushing and they are taking a lot of corners, they can do that. We created more corners, 12 [compared to] seven or eight for them, and also we had the chances and had a very clear penalty to Sokratis. I think the VAR is for this reason, for actions like that. The first chances for us were very clear, for Pepe was the key I think because they are the team in the Premier League who has conceded the least I think, with Liverpool - seven only - and if they score the first goal, then defensively they are very strong and they defended very well. In the second half it was not easy to get chances, I think we controlled the ball more with possession because they conceded metres on the pitch and we had chances to score, but we didn't achieve that goal to draw and the try to win. I think we deserved more, I don't think we deserved to lose that match but also I appreciate their work and they are here with their supporters and with that result, they felt strong to achieve that result. But we worked, but I can say for our players their attitude was good, they tried and I think we deserved more. 

 

on if he has any explanation for why VAR was not used for the Sokratis incident...

I was on the bench and really I watched perfectly, he won the timing to head the ball and for me it was a clear penalty. I think the VAR is for this reason. My point is to review and after to decide, but we need to also help the referees. I think the reason for the VAR is this.

 

on repetitive issues away from home...

Yes, but really, tonight the match in a lot of times in 90 minutes, I think we controlled it. We had more possession, more chances, more shots and for example, Pepe is improving and I think Pepe's way with us is little-by-little getting better. The next step is to score. Tonight for example, the best chance is one he is usually going to score but tonight he didn't take that with efficiency. He also had two shots that were very important. I think he is improving and taking confidence with us. But it is one process. Another player, Bukayo, is another step ahead he did tonight. Maybe we can speak and critical of ourselves as we conceded from a corner, and it can happen that they can score from a corner, but the most important is to be consistent and tonight we lost a good opportunity for three points. My point of view is that we didn't deserve to lose, but we lost and that is the reality. We need to keep [positive] for the next game against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Really now the table is very close, there are a lot of teams in that position we are in now and we know we lost a good opportunity to be in third position in the table. But we are going to work for our opportunity on Sunday.

 

on what happened with Freddie Ljungberg...

Yes, he was speaking with the assistant referee and they decided to give him a yellow.

 

on whether he knows his best starting XI...

Really, my point of view tonight is that there are things to analyse and improve. Defensively at the beginning of the match they pushed and we didn't stop them. We didn’t concede a lot of chances, but they had corners offensively and they can score from these corners. We had more than them, but we know they are a strong team in that situation and they use it to win matches. In other situations throughout the 90 minutes I think we controlled it in moments to create more chants. We didn’t score tonight, but if we played another match like tonight, I think it’s more easy to achieve the points.