M
SM
Collect News Data

Premier League

Arsenal

Europa League

May 9, 2019 at 8pm UK
Valencia
vs.
Arsenal
 

Game Menu

/esi/1339/6_G_1_91299/index.html?art_id=358646&game_id=91299&sport_id=1&ESI

Unai Emery: Europa League is an "important title"

:Headline: Unai Emery: Europa League is an 'important title':
Winning the Europa League would be Arsenal's only realistic route back into the Champions League.
PA | 16h

Unai Emery wants to win the Europa League to add something to the Arsenal trophy cabinet – not just to secure a return to the Champions League.

After being held to a 1-1 home draw by Brighton on Sunday, the Gunners' hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four are all but over.

That means Emery must guide his team to Europa League glory if he is to end his first season at the helm by taking Arsenal back to the continent's elite club competition.

Emery returns to former club Valencia on Thursday night for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie having won the first leg 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium last week.

The 47-year-old won three successive Europa League titles during his time at Sevilla and is keen for further success.

"I first competed for this title here at Valencia when it was still the UEFA Cup and was a lesser title than I think it is now," he said.

"It has grown. It's an important title for all those teams that are not in the Champions League – and for some who drop into it as a second chance, like Valencia this season.

"It's a title they all want to win. Giving teams a Champions League place through the Europa League is a fair reward. I have seen that shift.

Unai Emery, left, celebrates winning the Europa League with Sevilla in 2016 (Adam Davy/PA)

"The first time I won it with Sevilla, we didn't get Champions League access; the second time, we did.

"It's an attractive title and it's getting more attractive: we've seen Manchester United, Atletico, Sevilla against Liverpool.

"The demands are high and everyone wants it, as a title, not just a way in (to the Champions League).

"At any club like Arsenal or Valencia, titles have to be the objectives. Arsenal only have two European titles in their history: the old Fairs Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup, neither of which (still) exist, so I have a lot of ambition to win a title."

Arsenal could still meet London rivals Chelsea in the Europa League final – but the Blues no longer need to win the tournament to play Champions League football next season after they secured a top-four finish in the Premier League at the weekend.

David Luiz celebrates after scoring in Chelsea's win over Watford (Adam Davy/PA)

But Emery insists he is not feeling any additional pressure to deliver the Europa League title now it remains Arsenal's only route into the tournament.

"We started with two possible routes to the Champions League, one through Premier League and second through Europa League, and we are speaking about Europa League like it's one title," he said.

"We want to play for the possibility to take the title, and secondly for the Champions League. We know it is going to be difficult and we are finished in the Premier League, no possibility, but we have a possibility in this competition.

"With big ambition, full motivation, strong mentality, I want to enjoy this game. Games like this, away, difficult team, for an important target is all positive for us.

"It (feeling pressure) is not a condition for me. I am positive. I am very demanding with myself and give my players this mentality we want to do something important. I am not feeling pressure like a negative."



amp_article_358646 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2019-05-09 09:12:05:
html db last update - 2019-05-09 08:14:24 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Unai Emery

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Arsenal 'poised to confirm Edu appointment'
Report: Hazard to be forced to stay at Chelsea
Five memorable all-English Champions League ties

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37312491226995
2Liverpool37297187226594
3Chelsea37218863392471
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs372311365372870
5Arsenal372071070502067
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd37199965521366
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37169124744357
8Everton37158145244853
9Leicester CityLeicester37156165148351
10Watford37148155155-450
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham37147164854-649
12Crystal Palace37137174650-446
13Bournemouth37136185365-1245
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37119173848-1042
15Burnley37117194465-2140
16Southampton37911174464-2038
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3799193456-2236
RCardiff CityCardiff3794243269-3731
RFulham3775253477-4326
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3736282175-5415
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37312491226995
2Liverpool37297187226594
3Chelsea37218863392471
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs372311365372870
5Arsenal372071070502067
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd37199965521366
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37169124744357
8Everton37158145244853
9Leicester CityLeicester37156165148351
10Watford37148155155-450
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham37147164854-649
12Crystal Palace37137174650-446
13Bournemouth37136185365-1245
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37119173848-1042
15Burnley37117194465-2140
16Southampton37911174464-2038
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3799193456-2236
RCardiff CityCardiff3794243269-3731
RFulham3775253477-4326
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3736282175-5415
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.