LONDON • Arsenal manager Unai Emery has praised the work of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his short time at Manchester United, admitting the Red Devils are now a "very dangerous" opponent for any team.
Since taking over from Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer has overseen seven successive wins in all competitions, and his attacking approach has won over a dressing room that grew tired of his sacked predecessor's spiky personality and dour tactics.
The Gunners will host United in the fourth round of the FA Cup today and Emery is expecting "a very big test" after being impressed by their turnaround.
He told reporters: "It's a different team. It's the same players but they're playing with a big performance now. I watched their last matches and each player has a lot of confidence."
His preparations included a team-building paintball trip earlier in the week, but it has been a difficult few days for the club, both on and off the pitch.
It was announced on Monday that head of recruitment Sven Mislintat will leave next month, having been in the job for only a year.
A day later, defender Hector Bellerin learnt he could miss up to nine months after suffering ruptured knee ligaments in the 2-0 win over Chelsea last Saturday.
Emery revealed the team were sad that a third Gunner had been ruled out for the season before claiming that non-playing appointments were "not my issue".
He added: "This year is very difficult for big injuries like Hector, Rob Holding and (Danny) Welbeck. But football is like that.
BIG TRANSFORMATION
It's a different team. It's the same players but they're playing with a big performance now. I watched their last matches and each player has a lot of confidence.
UNAI EMERY, Arsenal manager, on how Manchester United have changed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
BIG CLASH
That's the one fierce rivalry of my years. They won the double, we won the treble. The games were just fantastic.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, Manchester United interim manager, reminiscing about the tough Arsenal games he experienced as a player.
"We need to treat these injuries like a normality in football, but we are very sad."
Asked if it was important to find a swift replacement for Mislintat, he said: "Maybe if you do this recruitment very quickly, you can make a mistake. It's better to do without that, being calm and also finding the best possible person to do this job like we want."
However, he gave a glowing endorsement of Monchi, the Roma director of football who has been linked to the vacant post.
The pair worked together at Spanish club Sevilla and Emery hinted he was eager to renew the "good relationship" with his fellow Spaniard who was "a good person and a good professional".
But he knows better than to let these matters distract him against a man eager to get one over United's "closest rivals" in his playing days.
Solskjaer, reminiscing about the period when Arsenal were United's main competitors from 1997-2005, said: "That's the one fierce rivalry of my years. They won the double, we won the treble. The games were just fantastic."
Although United will rotate their side for the Cup game, the players that are standing in still "have the quality to play". He added: "We have a very good and talented squad. There will be one or two changes definitely."
One player who is eager to play is Alexis Sanchez, who is returning to London for the first time since his bitter exit last January. The Chile forward is expected to get a frosty reception but Solskjaer is unperturbed by the likely boos.
Said the Norwegian: "I think he'll love it if the crowd turn against him. As a player, pride kicks in and you think, 'I'll show all of you.'
"He's been fantastic in training, his attitude has been spot on so, hopefully, he'll enjoy the game."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Ranieri Lined Up as Roma Sack Di Francesco After Champions
for Ministry With and To Young People.pdf
GUIDELINES FOR MINISTRY TO & WITH YOUNG PEOPLE Ministry to and with young people in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is firmly based on the United States Catholic Conference of Bishop's document Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry which was published in 1997. It is the understanding in this Archdiocese that youth ministry
7 Urgent Issues to Challenge in Your Youth Group
Football News - EPL MAN UNITED And the United manager suggested that their own failures in management make them unqualified to offer such views. Mourinho reveals fragile ego of mystery Man
Jose Mourinho rejects first managerial offer since Manchester
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Warns Players Against Complacency as Man Utd Boss Eyes Seventh Straight Win " I want players to be confident but not complacent and take their foot off the pedal, because
Man Utd Dimitar Berbatov icon warns Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle Jan 29 (Reuters) - NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 MANCHESTER CITY 1 Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - January 29, 2019 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell EDITORIAL USE
Pep Guardiola has his say on Man City's title hopes after
Everybody has an opinion on how much money you should tuck away in your bank account. The truth is, it depends on your financial situation. What you need to keep in the bank is the money for your
How Much Cash Should Your Business Keep in the Bank - Due
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 12, 2019, with the headline 'Brothers to Spur their team on at Wembley'.
Bristol City star Josh Brownhill hoping to spur brother Lewis
'We need to play there thinking to win': Unai Emery insists Arsenal will attack Valencia in Europa League semi-final. Arsenal take a 3-1 lead into Europa League semi-final second leg at Valencia
Unai Emery Admits He Doesn't Know if Aaron Ramsey Will Play
What Adaptations Do Wolves Have? | Sciencing
MADRID: Zinedine Zidane will make a shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday to sack Santiago Solari, say reports in the Spanish press. Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly met with the board and resolved to dismiss Solari, with Zidane set to be his replacement, nine months after he resigned at the end of last season.
Zidane set for shock Madrid return | Free Malaysia Today
Chinese football aims to be top in Asia the Asian Football Confederation confirmed on Tuesday (June 4) that China will stage the 2023 Asian Cup, a possible dry-run for hosting a World Cup
BlackRock aims to be a top asset manager in China, Fink says
Raheem Sterling blamed "silly mistakes" for England's defeat to Netherlands in the semi-finals of the Nations League. England were beaten 3-1 in Guimaraes despite having taken a first-half lead
No pats on backs for City after rout: Pep, Football News
Eden Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win Michy Batshuayi got the other goal for the top team in the FIFA rankings, who began their campaign last Thursday with a 3-1 home
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday (March 15).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
0 comments:
Post a Comment