Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery is at the helm of one of the most powerful teams in Europe and who will take on Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in February. MARCA spoke exclusively with Emery at the Parisian headquarters.
Q. I don't know if you have time to think about it but you are on the bench of one of the best clubs in the world. Do you enjoy your job in spite of the pressure.
A. In order to answer this I need to think about where I came from. When I was a player I took my coach's badge. Then I already felt the emotion of football which has driven me on to this point. In the difficult moments, that helps you, and you feel a big responsibility. When I was growing up it was all about passion and responsibility. I never had clear goals as a coach to be here or there. I made logical steps.
Q. You didn't look to be in the elite where you are now?
A. Not consciously, one thing led to another. I got promotion with Lorca, Almeria... football is very fluid. If you remain in one place then you become comfortable and you lose energy. Only a few coaches have overcome this like Ferguson, Wenger, Simeone. In my career, I made these small steps to leave the comfort zone.
I was at Valencia for four years. One day we lost 4-2 against Altletico in the Europa League.. and it got on top of me, I was sat on the bus with a lot of disappointed Valencia fans. The I said to myself: 'Unai you have to leave here.' I could not sleep thinking how I was going to say this to the players the following day. Then I went to Moscow, a very difficult time and then returning I found the perfect place in Sevilla. I was there for three and half years and now I am at Paris... after leaving the comfort zone at Sevilla.
Q. Now comes Real Madrid.
A. I have played a lot of games, in context, as important as this one although without the same impact in the media of a Real-PSG. I have been asked a lot if I feel pressure and I never look at it from that way. I talk about positive demands and responsibility to prepare ourselves the best that we can over the two games. We will be at the centre of world football and I will live it with passion as I have done with all my career. I am looking forward to the game so as to show what PSG can do. I am looking forward to playing it, enjoying it and winning it. Nothing to do with pressure.
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