Team news? How’s Gabriel?
We’ve got one more day to prepare the match. We will see tomorrow if everyone is available.
No hangover from Bayern?
We have some but hopefully with another day we’ll be OK.
What did you make of Bayern?
Reflection done, Bayern done. Now it’s only Aston Villa.
Has Saka calmed down after the penalty?
Yes. He looked fine this morning. He’s had 48 hours to think about it and that’s done.
What’s impressed you most about Aston Villa?
What they’ve done since Unai came in. He’s made a huge impact in terms of performances. It’s consistently unbelievable what they’ve been doing. They’re in European competition where they played last night. Really impressed with what they’ve done.
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What effect does playing last have?
We will know the results. We still have our duty to win our game which is the only thing we can control. That happened a few times already, it will happen again in the next few weeks. Just focus on what we can do, what we can control against a really good side to beat them.
Are you happy that semi automated offsides have come in?
Yes, if it’s unanimous that means it’s going to be better. It’s going to be faster and more efficient. Hopefully it’s going to be better for us.
When’s Timber back?
Still he’s got a few steps to make. He needs to play at least a game with the 23s. We’re going to have an in house game too soon. He’s done everything in training now it’s about getting him match fit, having people around him and competing in a football match which is different to training.
What can he give you when you’re back?
Hopefully a lot. From what we’ve seen in training and the time that he was fit, he’s going to have a big, big impact in the team.
How is the momentum right now?
Yeah it’s really good. We want to keep it going. We’ve got a very busy schedule and on Sunday we’re going to have a really tough one against a really good side. We’re going to have to be really good to do that.
There have been 18 changes at the top of the league?
Oh really I didn’t know that.
How exciting is that?
Hopefully it stays as it is for the remaining six weeks. 18 is a beautiful number. I like eight a lot. It was number I played with so let’s keep it.
How are the players dealing with the pressure?
I think it’s just a motivation. They’ve lived it already and they are super excited about what we’re doing. The way the team is performing and winning matches. We know the challenge ahead of us and how good we have to be to win it. We’re going to try.
Villa played in midweek and have players missing. Can you use that to your advantage?
We always try to use things in our advantage. We don’t know what they’re going to do there’s nothing we can control. They still won last night and they’re a really good side.
Do you prefer the use of VAR in Europe?
It is different as well with the officials. You have to adapt. It’s a competition played in a slightly different way and we try to adapt.
Could Tuesday be draining for your players?
I think a lot to take and especially how we managed the game emotionally. We were very dominant and ahead inside 15 minutes and then we were behind. Then you have to deal with that emotionally. I think the team did brilliantly to manage that situation. Half time every thing to play for in Munich.
You can’t teach that emotion can you?
That’s something you have to work on daily. With a lot of aspects. When you are there you already are living certain things in your system and you have to deal with that.
Unai had his 1000th game on Thursday. What do you make of that?
Unbelievable and he’s done it so many different countries and contexts. He’s been incredibly successful. He’s very close to my home town and I have huge admiration for him. I wish him the best after Sunday. What he’s doing again is really impressive.
How defining will the next two weeks be?
Very for sure. We can be in all competitions, going into the semis of the Champions League or not. Every game will define what our future looks like.
It’s impossible to look just one game ahead isn’t it?
It’s the only thing possible to look at one day and one game at a time. It’s the only thing that maintains your focus and determines the task you have on the day which is the only thing you can control.
So you never wake up thinking ‘I could be the first manager to win the league in 20 years at Arsenal’?
I don’t think like this to be fair. I think about what we have to do to beat the next opponent and to maintain the position that we’re in. It’s still very far.
How hard is it to keep that focus?
It’s the job that we live. The game finishes. 15 minutes after Luton I was watching Brighton in my office in the stadium. It’s like this. You don’t have time and you have to prepare the next one.
Will your defensive record win you trophies?
It’s a huge platform to win football matches that’s for sure. We saw the difference on Tuesday when you concede and don’t concede and how you concede.
How do you keep the players relaxed and positive?
Naturally. We have a lot of support from different areas in different fields and expertise. Then it’s understanding the mood of individuals and tweaking that every day to get them in the right zone to do that.
Do you have any special techniques to keep them in the right headspace?
I don’t know if they’re special but there are techniques to keep them there.
How was the touchline ban at Villa?
It was an experience. I deserved it. I had to go upstairs because I got the yellow cards. I experienced it. I didn’t like it so hopefully it doesn’t happen again.
Did it make you change your behaviour?
It’s possible that I think like that. Can I control it sometimes when I am there? Sometimes it’s been better. Across the season if you look at all the managers who have had bans it’s not a coincidence that they’ve all been there.
Has everyone adjusted now?
Maybe. The rule came up and it was very aggressive. Every time we were talking it was like ‘oh you’re going to get a yellow card’. I think now it’s a bit smoother as well. There’s a bit more understanding in both ways of what we expect from each other. That’s it.
Feel you’ve improved at controlling your emotions this season?
I think it has evolved, I don’t know if it is for better or worse. It’s not me the one that has to judge that, in the end it’s how much I help the club, how much I help the team and individual players to try to perform and win as many matches as we can. And this is the final objective, always.
Jesus spoke about playing in “pain”, do you need to manage him through rest of season?
In elite sport to play without pain, I think it is very difficult. When you play every three days especially, and the level that we play, if you ask any player they will say that: ‘Yeah, sometimes there is pain and you have to deal with that’. That is what makes you as well and Gabi has this toughness and this character that he always wants to overcome [it]. He has overcome some difficulties in terms of injuries and he is ready again.
Are you trying to actively transmit calmness to your players at such a stressful time of the season?
I don’t know if it’s conscious. You guys know me. It’s how I feel. One way or the other it’s very difficult to hide it. It’s how I feel. I want to give the players the best support and mindset to enjoy this moment and go for it and have a real sense of belief and determination to go for what we’ve worked so hard for for 10 months.
You don’t want to do anything that would distract them from the next game do you…
No. that’s for sure. They are super focused and determined. When a team is doing really well don’t touch. They have grown up a lot as well as a group. Let them be themselves.
Did Kai need convincing he could play as a 9?
No. The first conversation I had with him I told him what the idea was and where I could see him play and impact the team. He fully agreed with that, he’s very comfortable to change positions, he’s done it with us, he’s done it with Chelsea and the national team, and he’s got this capacity to adapt. If he’s feeling good — sometimes it’s about who he’s surrounded by and what we ask him to do, more than the position.
Do you think he’s more comfortable at 9 than 8?
I’m not sure I think it depends on the game, depends on the behaviour of the opponent, and what his role is within the day. But I wouldn’t say he’s more comfortable as a nine, I think he’s had obviously a tremendous impact as a nine but he did very similar as an eight.
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