We left it late, but Kai Havertz’s injury-time strike in Lisbon gave us a 1-0 first leg win over Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final, and after the game Mikel Arteta was not surprisingly delighted with the result.
The manager met the media after the game, and was asked about the performance, the importance of the result, the impact of his subs, David Raya’s contribution and much more.
Here’s a full transcript…
On his emotions after the late win…
Extremely happy, obviously. It was a big night, a big moment in the season. Especially where we’re coming from. I think we had a point to prove. And yesterday I talked about identity and the things that I wanted to see on that pitch. It certainly happened. Certainly there was a shift there. And then we played our opponent. It’s very tricky, very difficult to play. That’s the reason why they won 17 games in a row here. They haven’t lost for a long, long time and really had to earn it. We had moments of real dominance with a lot of situations in and around the box without creating enough threat sometimes. Lacking to be a bit crispier, the movement a bit sharper, the final ball. But we took the game where we wanted. But after saying that, we knew as well that it’s a team extremely dangerous when they have space to run and they have two situations where David had to intervene in a brilliant way. And then, again, the story of the season, the finish is coming when the most important part of the game is about to happen and then make the difference for us to go and win it.
On the impact of our players coming off the bench…
I think that’s a reflection of the chemistry that there is in the team and respecting your role within the day. And my decision that it’s not easy a lot of times to leave certain players on the bench to start with. But that organic is unnatural. They love each other so much that they do it for the team. And when you play with that attitude and that desire, these things can happen. And it’s been, again, a pivotal thing to raise the position that we are in. And we talk about identity. That was one of the main things that I discussed as well because we’re going to need them in the crucial moments to win it for us.
On David’s impressive display…
He’s extraordinary, magnificent, incredible. I don’t know the adjective, the right one. And with that, it’s enough. We are so happy to have him.
On what the result and performance shows about the team…
That’s when you have a difficult period. I think the best thing that you can do instead of talk a lot is observe. Look around you and see how people react. How they talk, how they look at you, how they judge you, what they do, do they look at themselves, do they start to criticise other people. Look around and you’re going to learn the environment and the people that you have around you. And I cannot be prouder to work in a club with people that the only thing they could do is ask, what else can I do to help? And when you have people like this, I don’t know if it’s going to take another week or two, but something good will happen at the end because we deserve it.
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On David’s focus…
That’s the evolution of the game, I think, in every role. The keeper, obviously, in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly and the amount of things that we ask him to do, it’s a lot. But many positions have very similar situations and demands right now and the players have to adapt to that. When you have, apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that’s when you can reach another level.
On Kai’s impressive record in big matches…
A lot because he’s done it, as you said. He’s lived it, he’s been part of something and that’s a really important thing to have in and around the team. And today he was ready, I could see from the disappointment the other day that he wanted to play immediately and the action of the goal, both from Gabi and him, is fabulous.
On our approach in the game…
We know especially how they start the first half here, the atmosphere that they create as a team, especially when they go ahead, extremely dangerous because they are so good in transition. The moment they turn you and they are running, those second actions, they are a team that creates big problems and when you are chasing the game it’s even harder.
On the mood in the dressing room and the belief it gives…
Yes, because the demands from August is win and win and win and win and if you don’t win, it’s a disaster and it’s not enough. You don’t win four trophies and… what are we doing? So that’s fine, but they need some perspective especially from my side, a big reminder of what we are as a team and the things that have brought us where we are. Take it, live the present, do your best and let’s see what happens.
On using this as a template for the rest of the season…
In a lot of things, yes and especially in the things that depend on us and it’s nothing to do with quality or execution. Those are the things that have brought us here. The rest we have it, it will be moments, it is better or not that efficient but those ones if we maintain them, we have a great chance.
On Viktor saying goodbye to the supporters after full-time…
Well, I didn’t know that but I’m really happy to hear that because I know how he felt in the manner that he had to leave as well. I know when a big player leaves a big club, it’s never easy. But if that has been the case, it tells a lot about the culture and the supporters here and as well what Viktor meant to them and what Viktor did for them. So I’m sure he’s very happy with that.
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