The Paris Saint-Germain coach spoke in the press conference and to PSG TV ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal on Wednesday 7th May at 9pm at the Parc des Princes. Here are some extracts.
preparation for the match
"I think everything is relatively straightforward. For example, today we talked about the things we could improve in attack or defence. We were able to train to improve those areas. We've got here thanks to all the work that's been done. We have to try and take advantage of what happens before, during and after the match."
keys to the match
"We're here because we deserve to be, we won the first game and tomorrow's objective is to win the second. There are a lot of potential keys, but I think we have to show the confidence that our supporters have shown us, in terms of effort and emotional intelligence. There will be details we can control. We're going to have to stay true to the ideas we've had so far. We're going to go into this match and build on our strengths. If things don't go our way, we'll be competitive enough to turn things around."
Mikel Arteta
"I was lucky enough to know Mikel when I was a player; we were together at Barcelona. I remember a player with a strong character. He was a great player and he's a great coach. We saw that with his work at Arsenal, and it's clear that the match will be difficult, as it was in the first leg."
parisian strengths
"Honestly, I don't believe that any one area of the team is superior to the others. Regardless of the players, that's one of Paris Saint-Germain's great strengths this season. We're not a team that speculates, no matter who our opponents are. It's not easy to do, you have to follow very clear principles."
his impact as coach
"All coaches have an impact on their players and their teams. Throughout my career, I've always said that I have excellent players. At every club, I try to bring individual and collective skills. Since last season, the team has received a lot of praise. That was one of my objectives: to offer the fans an attractive way of playing, like going to the cinema or a show. It's very positive that people are talking about us."