Harry Diamond
Premier League managers have been paying tribute to the sacked Unai Emery after Arsenal announced they had dismissed the Spaniard as the club’s head coach.
Arsenal have failed to win in any of their past seven fixtures in all competitions, leading the the club’s board to lose patience with Emery following Europa League defeat at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.
Premier League managers have been reacting to the news at their pre-match press conferences ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitting he was surprised by the news.
“I was surprised by the news but that’s how the football world is,” Klopp said.
“I have no inside information and I have no clue what happened there but the board obviously weren’t happy with the results and performances and they have made a decision.
The German manager added: “I wish Unai the best. He is an outstanding manager and he showed that in different countries and different leagues.
“Freddie is taking the job now and maybe he can take the chance.”
It was suggested to Frank Lampard that Emery’s Emirates exit was inevitable given the club’s winless run, though it is not a sentiment that the Chelsea manager agrees with.
“I wouldn’t say it was inevitable,” said Lampard
“Nothing is inevitable either way in football. It is not nice, everyone has a work ethic and an idea and it goes one way or the other.”
Tottenham Hotspur‘s Jose Mourinho and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola were both sympathetic in hearing the news, admitting it is never nice to see one of their divisional counterparts lose their job.
“There is not one single manager that is sacked that I am happy about, I always feel deja vu. I am sad, but that is life,” said Mourinho.
“Unai is a fantastic coach, not happy at Arsenal obviously, but a fantastic coach with a fantastic record. His career will be on track.”
Guardiola said he was “sorry” to see Emery go:
“Every time a manager is sacked it is not good news. Nothing will change my mind about his capacity, he is a proud professional. He did incredibly well in Spain and France. Winning three Europa Leagues with Sevilla is one of the most incredible achievements.
“But that’s football. He knows, I know, [the job] depends on the results. I’m sure he will find a new job soon.”
Daniel Farke’s Norwich City will face an Arsenal side guided by caretaker Freddie Ljungberg this weekend at Carrow Road, and the German insists he will be preparing to face a top side despite their managerial uncertainty.
“You feel for the head coach when the relationship between him and the club comes to an end,” Farke said.
“Arsenal is still a top-class club with top-class players.”
Read: The best Twitter reactions to Emery’s sacking
See Also: Where it went wrong for Emery at Arsenal