Unai Emery has confirmed that Henrik Mkhitaryan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Aaron Ramsey have not travelled to Baku.
Our head coach, speaking to the media in Azerbaijan ahead of our Europa League group-stage game against Qarabag, said this:
on the players who did not travel…
I explained first, for Mkhitaryan, why he cannot play tomorrow. Monday and Tuesday, Aubameyang was sick and he cannot travel to play tomorrow. Aaron Ramsey asked me if he can stay in London because his wife is pregnant and they are waiting on the doctors.
on Henrikh Mkhitaryan not travelling and the Qarabag manager’s comments…
He cannot travel here. We are here, the players with the best mentality and preparation and possibility to play tomorrow.
on whether Mkhitaryan could play in the final, which is also in Baku…
It’s a long time for us to arrive at the final. We are thinking only of the performance tomorrow. We are working to prepare for the next matches. Tomorrow is the Europa League, for us, a very big competition. I am here, playing in Europe and the respect is very big from me. We are here, every person here, is thinking about and enjoying the match tomorrow.
on if Unai knows why there is conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia…
My work is football. I respect each person, I respect each people, I respect each culture, I respect each country. But I don’t know each situation in every country. For me, he cannot play tomorrow. There is respect for Micki and respect for you. Today we are here with the opportunity to play well.
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