News

#WelcomeUnai: 10 of the best quotes

Unai Emery

Unai Emery was named as our new head coach on Wednesday - and here are 10 of the best quotes from him and about him.

The Spaniard is highly-experienced, having taken charge of clubs in his homeland, Russia and France.

These are some of the key quotes from his career so far:

"I always say: when I was 16, 18, I would go to school and I would have an hour of Latin, maths, history, philosophy, English, an hour of I don’t-know-what ... six hours. Here you come in and you have an hour of football ... an hour! Football! An hour of football, and you like football. So a video [is not too much to ask]."

Emery on his love for football

“For every game I might have spent 12 hours just on the video. Videos are very important. We work hard so that they have the best information and it has to be a good video: in an hour the players have to understand everything you’ve seen in 12.”


Emery on his use of analysis

“When I came here the supporters said to me: “please don’t play Reyes.” I said to him: “Jose, do you know what they’re saying about you?” We worked on it. And now every time he goes out at the Sanchez Pizjuan, the crowd are chanting: ‘Reyes! Reyes!'”


Emery on former Gunner Joe Antonio Reyes

“He does a very great job. When he arrived, it was a bit difficult for everyone because great players were gone. It is not easy for him to come into this context, but I think we have improved a lot. He is a great coach and we trust him. If you want to create something important, you have to keep at it.”


PSG midfielder Marco Verrati on Emery's influence

“I’m not the kind of coach who says: “Let’s do a few piggy in the middle exercises and get home for lunch.”


Emery on how he coaches his players

“The coach has understood our idiosyncrasies perfectly. He is crazy about football, the hours he puts in, how he manages the squad. I say that now after being successful, but also at the start of the season.”


Sevilla president Jose Castro on Emery's impact

“Emery put on so many videos I ran out of popcorn! He’s obsessed with football – it’s practically an illness. He’s one of the best managers I’ve had.”


Former Spain international Joaquin on Emery's approach

“We are prepared to work with different systems. The 4-3-3 is the main system we use, it is a great for keeping possession and applying pressure. But after that we need to have another system for different matches. Most importantly, it’s getting the balance and positioning on the pitch with and without the ball.”


Emery on tactical flexibility

“When I arrived at Sevilla, the first thing they said to me was, ‘Unai, playing in the Champions League, like Valencia did with you, is lovely but you haven’t experienced what it is to win things.’ Now I have; I have felt it. And it is the greatest feeling there is, something really shared. We can’t be a super-top team because of budget. But if you can grow, it’s very gratifying. And joy comes from the illusion, the hope, the dream, of winning a title.”


Emery on his time at Sevilla

“We have a great coach and he is getting the very best out of us – we don’t relax whether we are on the pitch or on the bench. We have really healthy competition for places here. [Emery] supported me, pushed me and helped me develop. Winning this final and going straight into the Champions League – what more can you ask for?”


Ever Banega on Emery's impact in winning the Europa League in 2015

See Full List

Fixtures & Results

UEFA Champions League
Ticket Info