Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media at Sobha Realty Training Centre for his pre-Manchester United press conference
Our manager was asked about the latest team news, his thoughts on new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, Bukayo Saka's performances and much more
Here’s everything he had to say on the following subjects.
**On Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel…**
We’re going to have a meeting this afternoon. We have done a training session, we have monitored and kept a few away from certain activities and after that meeting we will decide if everyone is fit and available and who will start.
**On drawing Manchester United in the FA Cup third round…**
That’s the thing about draws, you can get anybody. We play at home, it’s going to be a big match again and it’s a little bit of the story of the last few seasons that in the third or fourth round we are playing big opponents but we want to do what we have done historically at this club and in the end, you have to beat the big teams to win it. It is what it is. We are excited.
**On facing Ruben Amorim…**
Well you can see his fingerprints \[on the club\], you know what he wants to do straight away, I think he’s been very clear. He’s been very successful with Sporting, it’s remarkable after so many years what he achieved there, especially in the way he did it and the way his teams have been playing. He brings energy to the club, to the players, new ideas and that’s always something that’s positive but we have to focus on what we have to do.
**On revenge for the Europa League exit in 2023…**
It’s not revenge it’s always about another opportunity and whether you have beaten them or lost against any opponent, in the end, it’s going to be very different to the past. We learned that, we played against Sporting a few days ago and it was very different to two years ago. It has no meaning.
**On avoiding the results in December last season**
We hope that we have. Obviously the schedule and certain circumstances that we had, we had to adapt to that, we still competed really well but we didn’t have the consistency that we wanted. We are in a good run, we have good momentum again now and we have a big beautiful match tomorrow night.
**On Jorginho’s comments on Saka’s potential…**
They train with him every day, they’re in the dressing room with him so for a player, a team mate, to have this kind of words, it’s always really positive, it shows you how much they believe in him and the potential that is in him.
**On players giving Saka the nickname ‘pesudo'**
I heard that few times!
**On the key to the last three performances…**
That everybody feels important and we’ve been in this situation almost from the start of the season and we always talk about the squad, the importance of everybody feeling important and the quality that we have within that and we’re going to have to continue to adapt to that because with the schedule that we have, every three days, games, until March, it’s going to happen. So, very pleased that the team reacted and the team plays in the way it’s been playing, to win the games that we have done in a really convincing way, it’s very positive.
**On whether he has known a player come back like Odegaard did…**
I don't know, I'll have to think about it, but honestly, it doesn't surprise me, because the way he looks after himself, the way he was talking, the way he trained, the way he looked a week or two before he already joined the team - it was really sharp. And then obviously the team has a huge confidence and trust in him, so that has a big impact as well on how much we rely on him.
**On what he’s learnt as a manager…**
How unpredictable this job is, because I jumped into a new job in the middle of the season in very special circumstances, socially, especially at the football club. And then we go through Covid. So you can plan whatever you want, but at the end, football will take you in direction that you can never imagine and you have to deal with things. So take it as it comes, face it and go for it.
**On his highlights at Emirates Stadium…**
Well, the first one: my debut against Swansea. And then realising how beautiful it is to play for this football club in such a beautiful stadium. Also, the transformation in the atmosphere and how incredible we all feel about playing at home in front of our crowd, and the energy that they provide, which is something that I think is exceptional.
**On how different it is now…**
It feels different, probably because I’m not on the pitch, I’m on the sidelines and it’s different. But everybody talks about it. You have an experience and how it must feel like this at home, and it makes a huge difference. And tomorrow, that’s exactly what we need. Hyper energy. Everybody on it, playing every single ball with us and the team is going to respond to that.
**On Bukayo Saka’s output…**
Yeah, in terms of the numbers, yes \[we’ve noticed a shift\]. But we always see a shift in Bukayo. Every single year, he's providing something else, he’s adding things to his game, he’s more and more consistent. And as you mentioned now, his numbers in terms of impact in goals and assists is incredible at this stage of decision. He can only improve, he can only get better. He has the right players around him as well to continue to do so, and especially because he wants more.
**On his numbers compared to Ronaldo…**
The look is always good! And probably the way Cristiano started his career, and when he joined Manchester United, nobody probably expected him to do that in the first few seasons. But again, it was about his mentality, his work ethic, how he developed his skill, his chemistry with his team, and to play in a team that has the capacity as well to be dominant is very, very important. So, I think B has got that context and is heading for that. I think it's a positive thing.
**On Jorginho’s contribution…**
That's his quality. I think I always mention that his biggest quality is the capacity he has to make others better. And last season, it was the same at the start. There are fewer games, you don't play that many minutes, and he had less time to play. I always told him: be ready, because the time is going to come that we need him. In one way, you're going to play now or you’re going play tomorrow. And the way he prepares is top so when he needs to play, he’s always ready.
**On Jorginho feeling like an extra coach…**
That was my feeling when he was already at Napoli. That was the first time I scouted him as a coach here, for sure. And yeah, he’s got that will. He's been doing the courses now for a period of time with all the players as well so I'm sure he will prepare and he will be very good.
**On whether the Emirates is more hostile now…**
Yes, in certain moments. There are still a lot of things we can do to improve. We can do that as a team as well to promote that and how we connect with them. There are a lot of things and we are discussing that, because the criteria is changing, the age of certain attendance at the Emirates is changing and we have to continually evolve to that to get the best possible atmosphere and experience for our supporters.
**On what else the club can do to improve the atmosphere…**
That’s not really my job to talk about, I can do a lot of things, but I have a great team behind me for that.
**On possibly expanding the stadium…**
That’s a club issue and strategy and the moment we are ready to respond to do anything like that, I’m sure the club will announce it.
**On what Nicolas Jover is like as a personality…**
He’s a very special person and obviously someone very close to me. I went to war for him at City because I felt there was a big room for improvement in that department. I contacted him and I suggested to Pep (for him) to come and help us. Since then we’ve been extremely close. We share a clear vision of how we want to put everything together, about how everything is connected, aligned and can work efficiently in our team. There are a lot of other people who put a lot of effort and thoughts and hours into that, but for sure he is someone who is very, very important for the team.
**How he works on set pieces in training…**
I don’t believe in (having it separate). It’s all connected, so you have to try to connect it. It’s not sequences of play that are far apart, so we work in a way which is actually close to the game.
**On whether he empowers players to work on it during games…**
Yes, obviously the defensive part as well. When you have to defend set pieces, obviously it’s too late for what happened before that. How can you be in a better way to do that, is always something we discuss.
**On whether Manchester United can be in the title mix…**
It’s still very early in the season. Any team that has the capacity to put five or six wins in a row is going to be up there. Because it’s so tough and you see every week how all the teams are struggling to maintain winning, winning and winning. So I think anything is possible.
**On whether this is the most vulnerable he has seen Manchester City…**
Again, if there is a team with the capacity to turn it around and start to win, win, win and win – don’t rule them out because you know how much quality they have.
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