#Arsenal #ChampionsLeague boost: Martin #Odegaard and Kai #Havertz return for #AtleticoMadrid semi-final as Mikel #Arteta targets historic final berth.
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00:00Good evening everyone, hope everyone's well. We'll try to get round as much people as we can, there's obviously lots
00:03of us today.
00:04We have microphones in the room. I looked at the front row here. If we're all ready at the back,
00:09we'll kick off with Alex from the BBC.
00:11Hi Mikael. Before we get into stuff about the game tomorrow night, could I ask some team news updates please?
00:18There was no Kai Havertz during Timber or Martin Odegaard in training today, so are they available for tomorrow?
00:24Yeah, they are available, and the squad, both of them.
00:26How much is a boost to have?
00:28Right, because we need options, we need the capacity to play different games tomorrow, whether it's from the start or
00:35after, so it's really, really good news for us to have them both back.
00:39And just to clarify, that's Havertz and Odegaard?
00:41Yes.
00:42Thank you. You said tomorrow's game is one of the biggest in the stadium's history, so what are you looking
00:48forward to?
00:49I can't wait. I mean, I feel the energy in and amongst the team, our supporters, so these are the
00:55moments that we want to live together.
00:59We had a lot of work as a club, as a team, after 20 years to be in this position
01:05again, and we are so hungry to get the game that we want tomorrow and go through to the final.
01:12On Saturday, Bukayo Saka looked back to his best, so just how important is it to have him at his
01:17top level and what it does to your Arsenal front line?
01:19Great, that's what we need when we arrive in this stage of the competition, the players not only to be
01:25available, but to be in top condition to perform and make the difference, and Bukayo certainly gives us that.
01:33On Friday, you talked about defining a piece of history in the club's history, really, and just, I don't know,
01:41tomorrow night feels just as epic, you know, and just what an opportunity.
01:45How excited are you and the squad, and how ready are you to grasp that opportunity?
01:49Huge excitement, really hungry. I mean, it's difficult to express the desire to live that moment, and especially with our
01:58people in front of them.
01:59They've been waiting for so long to have these kind of nights, and, yeah, push hard tomorrow, because it's something
02:07amazing going to happen.
02:09What is your final message, or what will your final message be to both the players and, indeed, the fans,
02:13I guess?
02:14Go and grab it. I mean, when you are in front of such an opportunity, it means that you are
02:18ready to deliver, and the team is going to go from the first minute to go and get that.
02:25Good evening, Mikel. You're so close now to achieving something extraordinary, something historic.
02:32Often, managers in this position tell their players, look, we're going to ban any talk of titles, ban any talk
02:39of Champions League winning that trophy.
02:42Can you give us an insight into what your approach is, whether you've had any of those conversations with the
02:46players?
02:47No, I mean, the conversation is always, first of all, to get the best preparation for the game, and we
02:52know the game that we're going to be playing tomorrow,
02:55the games that we're going to play tomorrow within that game, and be prepared, be ready, be quality, be clarity,
03:04and deliver on the day.
03:05That's the most important thing.
03:06Visualisation is a very powerful thing. Have you allowed yourself, maybe, to think about the end goal?
03:13Have you pictured Martin Odegaard lifting those trophies?
03:16I've done it many years ago. The thing that I had in mind for this club, you can never promise
03:22to win major trophies.
03:24You can promise to work every single day with the vision and implementing and being determined with ideas and the
03:33decisions that you take
03:34to bring this club to be one of the best in Europe, and here we are. Now we have to
03:38make the next step.
03:39Just one final one for me. It concerns Myles Lewis-Skelly. How big a selection headache has he given you,
03:45and was it an expected selection headache he's given you?
03:50No, because I know Myles, but the same with Myles, the same with Ricky, all the players. Moske, when he's
03:55been involved, a lot of players.
03:57So that's a good thing. We always talked about in this moment we need players with a great emotional state,
04:05because I think that determines the rest, and we are feeling very good for tomorrow.
04:11Simon, can I just ask, how much of your message to the players is to have no regrets tomorrow night,
04:16and when they walk off that pitch they can look in the mirror and say,
04:19I left everything out there?
04:20The first word I never liked to put it into such a big night is about what we want to
04:27happen, what we are going to do, and that's the things that we've been discussing.
04:30And can I ask you as well, just what makes you believe this time you can make it to the
04:34final when a year ago you weren't able to take that final step?
04:37What I see every single day, I mean, they have given me the reason to believe, to trust these players,
04:43and to be convinced that we can do it in any context against any opponent.
04:49This is football, and tomorrow we're going to have to prove it throughout the game.
04:52Sam, the Telegraph.
04:54Hi, Mikel. At left-back you've got two very good players, you've had very good seasons.
04:58How do you see those two with Piero and Ricky, and what kind of qualities, and how they differ?
05:04And can you give us an indication of what you might want from them tomorrow?
05:08Well, very different. We rarely had both of them available at the same time for long periods, so we're more
05:13restricted in terms of the opponent
05:15and the connection that we want to generate throughout the game or with the teammates to choose from there.
05:22Now they are both available, and that's a great option because they are, as you said, so different.
05:27Hi, Mikel. Atletico obviously rotated their entire starting line-up over the weekend,
05:32but do you think the win over Fulham and the manner that that came in is even better preparation for
05:36your side?
05:37For us, it's great preparation. It's the preparation and the schedule that we had.
05:41We maximise that in every time, and the team has so much energy and is ready to go forward.
05:47James Athletic.
05:48Hi, Mikel. There's quite a lot of supporter activity planned for tomorrow.
05:52The fans are hoping to meet the bus when it arrives at the stadium.
05:56There's a huge TIFO that's going to be unveiled from the East Stand.
05:59What's your message to the supporters ahead of the game? What do you want them to bring tomorrow night?
06:03I don't think his message is needed. I mean, it's what is at stake. It says it all, I think.
06:08It's the occasion, it's the moment, it's the game. Let's live this together and let's make it happen.
06:15Hi, Mikel. A lot of emotive words like history and excitement. We don't normally speak to you so late before
06:20a home game.
06:21How will you relax tonight? Will you sleep well? And if you're struggling, we're going to go and watch the
06:25Everton match in the pub afterwards.
06:26Relax over there. I will sleep well, for sure. I'm used to working this type of hours, so there is
06:34no change.
06:35And there is a change for the region to play the Champions League semi-final tomorrow. That's great.
06:40Kerry from Beansport.
06:41Mikel, extraordinary that these are two teams that are very well established in Europe, but yet to lift the Champions
06:49League trophy.
06:50What does that say to you about the difficulty of this competition and how much these teams will both want
06:58it so much tomorrow night?
07:00Well, how tough is it to be in the position that we are in? And in our history, it tells
07:05us.
07:05And the level of every team and the competition shows every day that being here deserves a lot of credit
07:15to everybody that is involved in.
07:16But obviously, we know where we want to be.
07:19OK, we'll do a couple more in English and then we'll go to a couple in Spanish. Tom from Football
07:22London.
07:23I'm Mikel. Atleti had the benefit of resting the majority of their players at the weekend that we expect to
07:28start.
07:29You didn't have that luxury because of what you have at stake in the league.
07:32But was it almost slightly more beneficial to gain that momentum and how you won that game against Fulham to
07:36lead you into this than having 11 players rested?
07:39Yes, and as well, we didn't do anything related to tomorrow's game.
07:43Everything was related to Fulham and what we have to do to win the Premier League.
07:48And that's what we did. I think it left a really good taste to everybody, players, the team, the supporters.
07:54And now we have to use that momentum towards tomorrow because it's exactly what we need.
08:00Hi, Mikel. Last week it was quite an intimidating atmosphere for the away leg, but your team coped with it
08:04really well.
08:04How much do you think your supporters can make it intimidating for Atletico tomorrow?
08:09It was an unbelievable atmosphere, one of the best that I've witnessed and it was great to play there.
08:13And yes, I can't wait. I can't wait again to leave this moment with our supporters, our people and generate
08:21something really, really special to get into the final.
08:24The club in the year 71, does it give you more confidence in these players or the data are the
08:31same and win and win?
08:33What I've said, I think that the way they compete, they play and the desire they have to win,
08:40they have shown me every year that I have to trust in them.
08:43And that conviction me comes from what I see and what I feel.
08:47And tomorrow it will be different, but we are prepared for it, we are prepared for it, we are prepared
08:52for it and, above all, for winning.
08:55What's up, Mikel? Miguel MartÃn Talavera, Cadena SER.
08:59Good afternoon.
09:00We've seen a Julián entrenando at the beginning of the training.
09:03I don't know if your competition in the tournament, if it is or not,
09:07can you do your plan for tomorrow?
09:09It is that I can't control it, so I can't control it.
09:14Tomorrow they will start with one, they will start with another,
09:17the same thing we have, the same thing we have, the same thing they have.
09:20We will adapt as always and we will carry out the game where we believe it is better for us.
09:26Hello, Mr. Javier Rodrigo, Radio Nacional de España.
09:29He has recognized the Cholo that this Atleti ataca better than defending.
09:31I don't know what Atleti expect tomorrow.
09:34If he is more aggressive, he will be able to go to the party.
09:36If he is more aggressive, he will be able to go to the ball.
09:39What Atleti expect tomorrow?
09:41No, I don't know what he has planned.
09:44I don't know what he has planned.
09:44I don't know what he has planned.
09:44I think he has the ability to do many things very well.
09:49It's the reason why they are here.
09:50There will be moments for everything, I imagine, in the party.
09:53Like in the party of Madrid.
09:56And, no.
09:57I think that's the best.
09:59I think that's the best.
10:01I think that's the best.
10:02I think that's the best.
10:03How do you think you feel like a coach in Spain?
10:06Well, I don't know.
10:08I don't know what I do.
10:11I don't know what I do.
10:12I don't know what I do.
10:12I don't know what I do.
10:13I hope that with someone with a lot of passion, honest,
10:17and that absolutely everything is for their club and their players.
10:22Hello, Miquel.
10:23I'm Javier Peña from the Agencia F.
10:24What important is it to face this game with a Emirates and against the aficion?
10:31It's a dream for us.
10:32To have the opportunity tomorrow to pass to a championship championship
10:36in front of our people.
10:38It's something that we haven't lived since so many years.
10:41It's something special.
10:42It's something special.
10:43And I want to live it.
10:45Miquel.
10:46Pablo Montaño, for the Diario Agila Cadenaser.
10:47How do you explain it in English?
10:49But, well, we could hear you in Spanish.
10:51Have you been in the training this morning?
10:53Odegaard, Havertz and Timber.
10:55Could you give us a little bit about the physical state of the three players?
10:58Timber is outside, but Odegaard and Havertz are available.
11:02Perfect.
11:03Let's turn the last two gentlemen.
11:06In Spanish.
11:07Thank you, Miquel.
11:08Jose Galindo, for the Desmarque.
11:10There is the feeling, at least in the Atletico Madrid,
11:13that the Arsenal could escape alive from the Metropolitano
11:15for occasions, especially in the second part.
11:18That's your intention, to bring the game to how it ended.
11:21I don't know how you have changed the chip in the minds of your players.
11:24It's to say, no can you repeat this again?
11:28Well, we did the game very clear,
11:31especially in the moments in which we live.
11:33And we focus on the game that we want tomorrow,
11:37what are our weapons and how to carry it there.
11:40Mr. Lola Hernández, Fox, Latan.
11:44Three Premier, two Champions,
11:47a point of winning and winning.
11:50I don't know if this is a little over the head.
11:54The only thing I have is to prepare tomorrow,
11:57as best as possible, the team,
11:59and that we go out as besties and enjoy the moment.
12:03and then we go out as well.
12:03We can't wait for it verse out to happen!
12:03Here we go!
12:03Hopefully that's where we go,
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