- Title: PSG look ahead to Arsenal clash despite Aurier absence
- Date: 22nd November 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 22, 2016) (REUTERS) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH UNAI EMERY AND PSG MIDFIELDER THIAGO MOTTA ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH UNAI EMERY, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "First and foremost the club did everything in its power for Serge (Aurier) to be amongst us tonight, every footballer wants to be involved in a fixture like this but ultimately the decision was not down to us. As a coach, I have a lot of confidence in Thomas Meunier and the other defenders, I think they've shown a lot of confidence and they're team players, so there you go." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH UNAI EMERY, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "First and foremost it's important to make it through to the knockout stage, that was the first target that was had, now our goal clearly is to top the group. We all want to finish top of the group but it's going to be a very good test of where we're at at this moment in time against an in-form side like Arsenal who are playing at home. I think we put in a positive performance at the reverse fixture in Paris, I mean we played well, but I think it's great for the fans when you come up against a top side like Arsenal with a lot of good players. What I want to see tomorrow night is that everyone can witness a good game of football. I want us to show a lot of character over the 90 minutes and have a lot of confidence in our ability. Sure we want to win the match and we want to finish top of the group." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN MIDFIELDER THIAGO MOTTA, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "No, I don't think so, as I've just said, we have players who can come in and deputise for Serge Aurier, although of course we are disappointed for him as a top player, we know that all players want to be involved in a fixture like this one, but as I've already said we're focused on tomorrow night's game and what we need to do on the pitch, we're focused on the match end of." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EMERY STANDING AND LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE PARIS ST GERMAIN TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS AT EMIRATES STADIUM VARIOUS OF PSG'S ARGENTINE MIDFIELDER, ANGEL DI MARIA TRAINING URUGUAYAN FORWARD, EDINSON CAVANI (RIGHT) AT TRAINING SESSION PSG'S CAPTAIN AND DEFENDER, THIAGO SILVA (CENTRE) STANDING IN HUDDLE WITH TEAM MATES PLAYERS LISTENING TO COACH, UNAI EMERY TALKING CAVANI LISTENING TO EMERY PLAYERS WALKING ON PITCH AT END OF TEAM HUDDLE, THIAGO SILVA WALKING BEFORE STARTING TO JOG PLAYERS JOGGING FRENCH MIDFIELDER, HATEM BEN ARFA (LEFT) JOGGING ALONGSIDE COMPATRIOT, DEFENDER, PRESNEL KIMPEMBE (RED HAIR) BEN ARFA JOGGING EMERY WALKING ON PITCH EMERY TALKING TO COACHING STAFF / DI MARIA JOGGING AS UKRAINIAN MIDFIELDER, GRZEGORZ KRYCHOWIAK WALKS PAST AND STANDS NEXT TO CAVANI ITALIAN MIDFIELDER, MARCO VERRATTI STRETCHING AS THE TEAM WARM UP EMERY TALKING TO AN ASSISTANT COACH EMERY WATCHING ON / PLAYERS TRAINING TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS PLAYERS RUNNING INTO A HUDDLE GERMAN GOALKEEPER, KEVIN TRAPP TRAINING THIAGO SILVA WATCHING ON AT TRAINING SESSION VERRATTI MAKING A SLIDING TACKLE DURING A TRAINING DRILL TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 7th December 2016 21:00
- Keywords: Paris Saint-Germain Arsenal Champions League Thiago Motta Unai Emery Serge Aurier
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00159J33NJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Paris St Germain were left "stunned" on Tuesday (November 22) at a decision by British authorities to revoke the visa of their defender Serge Aurier, preventing him from playing in a Champions League match at Arsenal.
The club released a statement criticising the move by British authorities and questions over the entry ban dominated a news conference to preview Wednesday's (November 23) match.
"First and foremost the club did everything in its power for Serge (Aurier) to be amongst us tonight, every footballer wants to be involved in a fixture like this but ultimately the decision was not down to us. As a coach, I have a lot of confidence in Thomas Meunier and the other defenders, I think they've shown a lot of confidence and they're team players, so there you go," said coach Unai Emery.
Midfielder Thiago Motta also spoke about Aurier's absence at the same news conference.
But Emery seemed keen on moving on past the controversial revoking of Aurier's visa.
The Spanish coach said his side would strive to play for a win at Arsenal, a match likely to determine the eventual winner of the group.
"First and foremost it's important to make it through to the knockout stage, that was the first target that was had, now our goal clearly is to top the group. We all want to finish top of the group but it's going to be a very good test of where we're at at this moment in time against an in-form side like Arsenal who are playing at home. I think we put in a positive performance at the reverse fixture in Paris, I mean we played well, but I think it's great for the fans when you come up against a top side like Arsenal with a lot of good players. What I want to see tomorrow night is that everyone can witness a good game of football. I want us to show a lot of character over the 90 minutes and have a lot of confidence in our ability. Sure we want to win the match and we want to finish top of the group."
Both Arsenal and PSG are on 10 points from four games with Basel and Ludogorets Razgrad on a point each, qualification the next stage of the tournament is secure for both Arsenal and PSG. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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