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While Arsenal is at a game in its first European match for 25 years and a return to the Champions League, Unai Emery's manager revealed that some of his players did not consider the Europa League as an important competition at the beginning of the season.
For a team that has only won two trophies across the continent in its history – the Uefa Cup Winners' Cup in 1994 after the Fairs Cup triumph in 1970 – one would think that it would There would be a desire to add the second most prestigious trophy from Europe to an always dusty cabinet, having reached the semifinals last quarter.
Especially under a new manager who values the competition so much. No history coach has ever won the competition, whether in the Europa League or UEFA Cup, more than Emery.
Unai Emery said he had to concentrate his Arsenal stars to be able to play in Europa League
Gunners (Nacho Monreal and Mohamed Elneny) went to Baku on Sunday
Victory against Chelsea in the final on Wednesday would allow Emery to win four titles, one ahead of Giovanni Trapattoni.
"My titles in this competition are not a guarantee," said Emery. & # 39; Every game, every year is different.
"The first idea was to give players this season, that we participate in all competitions. We are now in the Europa League. We needed to feel that this competition was an important competition.
"When we started playing in the first matches, some players preferred to play in the Premier League. D & # 39; agreement. I then explained to each player that we needed to focus on all competitions.
& # 39; I will decide when you will rest or not. I do not want you to think that you might not be playing in the first few rounds. However, when we come to the semifinals or finals, you tell me: I'm here to play. No, I want you here, I want you to be ready to play, and you'll be ready to play all the way.
"Of course, some injuries can prevent you from playing. But the whole season is dedicated to this competition with great concentration and a great ambition to do something important. And feel this competition as we want.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech (left) and midfielder Granit Xhaka (right) get off the plane in Baku
Sead Kolasinac hopes to play a leading role in the Europa League final on Wednesday
The team has no choice but to focus on it. Their rivals, Chelsea, qualified for the Champions League with their third place in the Premier League.
Arsenal, who had begun planning his win before even reaching the quarter-finals, finished the game at one point in the top four. It's their last hope of sneaking into the Champions League next season.
However, even if it is Chelsea who reached the final with the Champions League football ensured next season, doubts remain as to the future of their manager, Maurizio Sarri.
The Italian is ready to discuss his position with Blues owner Roman Abramovic after the final.
The gunners were greeted by adoring fans when they arrived in Azerbaijan
Meanwhile, opposition leader Maurizio Sarri must discuss his position after the final
"Our life, the life of a coach, is hard and hard for us," said Emery. "I like Sarri a lot. He is a very good coach. When you watch a Chelsea game, you recognize him as a coach.
"You can see the identity of Sarri. He created this in Naples before here. This year, they finished third in the Premier League and they are in this final. I see him with Chelsea as a good team, a good coach, a good season, a good way to play.
"I learned watching Sarri in Naples and now in Chelsea.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos, meanwhile, urged Arsenal to win the Europa League for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Mkhitaryan, an Armenian, remained on the spot for security reasons as a result of his country's political conflict with Azerbaijan, where the final is being held. "We are sad for him, but we must now play for him," Papastathopoulos said. "Sometimes these things happen."
Sokratis, meanwhile, urged Arsenal to win the Europa League for Henrikh Mkhitaryan
As well as the players who were injured this year like Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck. We have to play for them too.
"Danny is with us now and I hope he can be fit for the final.
Mkhitaryan also missed the match against the Azerbaijani opposition earlier this season, staying home when Arsenal faced Qarabag in October.
Arsenal was called to boycott the final by an online petition to move the final, garnering over 16,000 votes.
"It's not my position to say what UEFA should do," added Sokratis. They have been doing it for many years. They know better than us. That is what happened and for us it is not good.
"Henrikh already knows that we will also play for him and for other injured players and hope we will give them happiness."
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