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00:01Hello.
00:02Hello everyone, thanks for coming.
00:04If you have a question, we have mics in the room,
00:07so if you raise your hand, we'll come to you.
00:09We'll kick off with John Cross in the front.
00:12Hello, Mikel.
00:13Hi, John.
00:14I was just going to ask you about the opportunities for my night.
00:16What an opportunity.
00:17I mean, it's, you know, Gary Martinelli has said
00:19it's the biggest game of his life.
00:21Does it feel the same for you?
00:22What can the atmosphere bring?
00:23What an opportunity.
00:24It does, and you sense it.
00:26You sense the energy, the enthusiasm,
00:27that is something unique.
00:29Probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates have seen
00:32since we built it.
00:33And, yeah, full of energy, enthusiasm,
00:36and can't wait to play the game tomorrow.
00:38It's incredible to think Arsenal never won this trophy,
00:41bearing in mind the success that they've had.
00:43So what would that mean to you?
00:45And also, bearing in mind the season that you've had,
00:48just what would it mean to win the European Cup?
00:50Yeah, especially with the circumstances that we had this season
00:53and how we have overcome a lot of issues and challenges
00:58and the fact that the team is here as one of the four best teams in Europe.
01:04It tells about the mindset, the spirit, and how much we really want it.
01:09So, yeah, we are making history.
01:11It's a beautiful story right now, but we want much more.
01:15Hi, Mikel.
01:17Hi.
01:18We saw how the team invested so much emotional energy
01:21and the crowd as well into that Real Madrid game
01:23and the atmosphere here.
01:24Is it a case of just doing that again?
01:27I mean, is it that simple?
01:28More.
01:29To more and more, I told them, and I'm not exaggerating when I said,
01:31guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your t-shirts,
01:35and let's play every ball together.
01:37You know, you want to do something special,
01:39that place has to be something special,
01:42something that we haven't seen,
01:43and I really hope that everybody that comes tomorrow to the Emirates
01:48and everybody watching and following us,
01:50it brings that energy with them.
01:52Dave Gordian?
01:53Do you feel the weight of history?
01:55Arsenal obviously never won this tournament,
01:57and it's only the third semi-final.
01:59Is that sort of a big part of this?
02:02You feel it, especially because we have, fortunately,
02:05a lot of people that have worked at the club for many, many, many years,
02:08and they've never been in this position.
02:10You know, so that tells you how unique and beautiful it is,
02:14and yeah, it's the nicest competition for any European club.
02:18We've never done it,
02:19so we need to earn the right to win that final,
02:22and everything is going to start tomorrow.
02:24And in terms of PSG, they've been absolutely excellent all season,
02:27but certainly since the turn of the year,
02:30and yet Villa showed that maybe they can be vulnerable.
02:34I mean, do you take anything from what Villa did in that second leg,
02:37Yeah, obviously you learn a lot from every game.
02:40It's different.
02:41I think the context and results from both games are very, very different.
02:45The same with Liverpool, but yeah, what I take as well,
02:48a lot of things from the game that we played here, you know,
02:50and we understand how strong they are as a team,
02:52the individuals that they have, but we have the same.
02:55So when you get to this stage, I think the margins
02:59and the difference between the two teams is not big,
03:03and it's really, it's the mindset, it's the attitude,
03:05and how we're going to play the game tomorrow.
03:07Alex from TNT.
03:09Mikel, for a lot of the Arsenal fans, the atmosphere in the Emirates
03:13for the Real Madrid game was probably the greatest they felt at the Emirates,
03:17let alone maybe ever at the club.
03:19Would you say the connection between the team and the fans
03:23is the strongest it's ever been since you were here as a player
03:26and your five years as manager?
03:29Yes, I think since I experienced and I was part of this as a player,
03:35100%, and hopefully it will be much better
03:39because it's very improbable still, and yeah, building your own story
03:43and having the experiences that we have lately together,
03:46I think it's going to make that relationship and that connection even stronger,
03:50and tomorrow we have a massive opportunity as well, as a club, as supporters,
03:54to demonstrate who we are and how far we still want to get together.
04:05Mikel, in that second half at Villa Park,
04:07Luis Enrique said that no other team had dominated PSG like they did,
04:14but they had to take risks at the time.
04:16So, tell us a little bit about how you are brave against this team.
04:22Well, I think you've seen it firsthand, the way we approach the game against Real Madrid,
04:27the way we approach the game when we played them before,
04:29the way we approach every week, that's not going to change,
04:32that's who we are, it's our biggest strength,
04:34and the good thing as well about us is that we are able to adapt to very different contexts,
04:40and we have shown that again this season because sometimes you don't want to,
04:45but the teams are able to take you to a different game and feeling comfortable playing that game
04:51and overcoming that game to put yourself in a position that you play more the game that you want,
04:56is a big strength, and I think this season again we have demonstrated that we have the capacity to do that.
05:01And obviously, second leg, you have to go to the Parc des Princes, which is a daunting prospect,
05:06however, what do you take from having gone to the Bernabeu and finished the job?
05:12Well, I think going to the Bernabeu I think is probably the biggest test that you can have as a European team,
05:17because of the history, because of the very recent history and a lot of the things that happened there,
05:23and I think we manage that game really, really well,
05:26and I think that brings confidence and experience to a team that most of us, we never had before.
05:33Ian from Talksport.
05:35Hi Mikael, how are you?
05:36I'm good, thank you.
05:37Declan Rice, Man of the Match in both games against Real Madrid.
05:41Has £100 million ever been spent more wisely on a player than you spent on him?
05:46Hopefully when we win a lot of trophies together, we can justify that to ownership,
05:53and everybody is happy, you know, we are extremely happy to have him.
05:56I think, again, he's made a few strides forwards to play with that pressing, that determination,
06:03and actually to influence the game the way he did in both legs.
06:07Really impressive, and we need that.
06:09I think the individuals have to step in in these moments.
06:12It's a game for players and a game for big players to stand out and make the difference in the game.
06:17And the greatest modern-day manager before you, of course, to manage this club,
06:22Marcel Wenger had one shot at winning this trophy against Barcelona in the final.
06:27What would it mean to you to have a shot at bringing home a trophy this club has never brought home before?
06:33An incredible opportunity.
06:34I mean, we are here to make people happy, to create history, and we are very close.
06:42And now we have to take the opportunity and make it happen.
06:46James, to discuss sports.
06:48Mikel, considering the journey that you've been on with this club,
06:51and there has been some really dark days at times,
06:53how much pride do you take in the fact that you're going to lead Arsenal into a Champions League semi-final?
06:58And did you always believe you could take Arsenal to this stage?
07:01I hoped and I dreamed and I put all my work, effort and the support of a lot of people around the club to achieve it.
07:11But those days were necessary.
07:13I mean, a journey to have sense and to achieve what you want to do.
07:17You have to learn and you have to go through certain periods to enjoy certain others.
07:23And this is where we are right now, and now we have to make the next step.
07:28Thomas Partey tomorrow, how much of a boost was it to have Mikel Moreno back in training?
07:32And can you provide an update when it comes to Calafuri as well?
07:36And Ben White back in training today as well?
07:37Yeah, Mikel and Ben, obviously we know that we lost Thomas, unfortunately, very late in the game against Real Madrid.
07:45And Ben and Mikel, they were able to train. Let's see if they are able to start tomorrow.
07:49And Ricky is still not fit.
07:52Hi, Mikel. I think before the Real Madrid game, you spoke about it being about more than belief, but a mindset.
07:58And I was just wondering, can you explain what that mindset looks like?
08:02Is it something that's had to kind of shift as time has kind of evolved?
08:07It's just to visualize it, to be convinced, to go on that piece thinking, yeah, we're going to beat them.
08:13We're going to be better than them tomorrow and we're going to do everything that we understand is the right things to end the right to win the game.
08:20And go there with that conviction and feel the conviction around it. I think it's key.
08:25If we are able to generate that energy, we're going to be much closer to winning the game.
08:29And that's what I feel again in the team, that we are really looking forward to playing the game tomorrow.
08:33And we're going to give our very best to try to win the game.
08:37That feeling that you've described, is it something that you can kind of notice changing in real time?
08:42Or is it only when you look back?
08:45I think probably you feel it because it's been so much work done before
08:49and because the players are really resonating with what we are doing
08:53and they feel, yeah, we can face these guys and we can be better than them.
08:56And that's the feeling we had against Madrid or the previous round or through the group stages.
09:01And that's how we feel today. I look at them in the eyes and they can't wait to play tomorrow.
09:07That's the feeling.
09:08James, yes again?
09:09Hi, Mikel. You talk about sensing that weight of history.
09:13How do you and the players channel that sort of most positively into the game tomorrow?
09:20Well, it's just an opportunity. I mean, we have to have the feeling that we have to hold them back tomorrow
09:24to go on that pitch and express themselves.
09:27It's a moment now to say, okay, this is who we are, this is who we are as a team, this is who I am as an individual
09:32and I'm going to put my very best in there to make it happen.
09:35And play with that mindset and leave yourself go.
09:39They know everything now is about, okay, where are the limits and how far I'm able and how far I want to go.
09:46That's it.
09:47And we've talked about the game in October here.
09:50I mean, obviously there's a lot happened since then.
09:52Do you think that game's relevant to tomorrow night?
09:55I think we learn from each other, you know, and obviously it was very important for us
10:00because at the time as well they were one of the best teams in Europe
10:03and they were performing consistently.
10:05They have an excellent coach.
10:06They've been together now for a while.
10:07And to put yourself into that category to that level and say, actually, we can compete and we can beat them.
10:13I think it was a good preparation I went for what is coming right now.
10:18Jordan?
10:19Hi, Michael.
10:20I think also we've seen it with the English national team and their bid to go and end their run of not winning a trophy.
10:25And they talk about the weight of the badge and not being able to shrug that off and forget about the past.
10:31How do you do that? How do you shrug off that weight and let players go and play free win?
10:36Live the now. The present is where we are. We are so fortunate. We put so much into it to be in the position that we are.
10:43We earn it with our work, with our enthusiasm because we face a lot of challenges and we manage to compete at the highest level for 10 months.
10:52So, we earn it. Now, be present and live the moment. A beautiful moment. Let's live it and let's enjoy it.
10:59So, in this moment, do you avoid talking about the past and what's happened in the past and only today?
11:04For me, it's irrelevant. You know, it's part of our history. We can learn things from that.
11:09But the past is a very far past or a very short past as well. And I'm very interested with the short past to understand if that helps the team to be in the position that is today, to use a lot of things to be better tomorrow and win again.
11:23Tom from London.
11:24Hi, Michael. I heard the term one club mentioned before when talking about the men's and the women's team at Arsenal.
11:30There's a chance that Arsenal could have two teams in a Champions League final this season across those two competitions.
11:36Did you take inspiration from yesterday?
11:38Well, women's team has already earned that and it's been an inspiration. It's been incredible what they've done to achieve it in the manner that they've done it.
11:46So, again, for us, it's just they're showing the road, the pathway, how we can do it and how inspiring it is for us because we want to be there as well.
11:57James, CBS.
11:58Michael, just looping back to that game in October, what were the qualities you saw on the pitch that night that you're going to be telling your team to replicate tomorrow night?
12:05I love the presence straight away, how we went out there, our body language, the intensity, how aggressive we were.
12:12We play with real belief and determination. And when you are facing big opponents, immediately you need to put the game into that context.
12:21Hi, Michael. You seem to be radiating an excitement ahead of tomorrow night's game, which is great to see.
12:26How do you protect against that turning into nerves, though, in terms of some of the playing stuff?
12:31How do you stop that excitement turning into nerves with the occasion right on the horizon?
12:36Preparation. I think prepare as well as you possibly can. Make sure that your energy is balanced, make sure that your understanding of what you have to do is already done.
12:48It's time to express yourself out there and enjoy being a footballer and playing in one of the best stages that you can play in world football.
12:56Hi, Michael. With Real Madrid, they obviously caught a lot of attention because of the star players in their team, the fact that they've won the Champions League 15 times.
13:04In some ways with PSG, does there need to be a bit of... you need to be careful in some ways because of, despite obviously not having that prestige as Real Madrid did,
13:13they're still a good team and obviously as a team, the more together rather than just individual parts, maybe?
13:19Yeah, very, very different opposition. I think it's a team that is very well worked with a lot of detail, with a lot of attention to a lot of things
13:29and understanding why certain things happen in the game. And then, yeah, of course, they have individual talent that we have. If not, we wouldn't be here.
13:36OK, we've got so many hands up. I don't think we're going to get through everyone. So, we'll take two more from the UK
13:40and then we'll go into a Spanish question and then one question in French, if that's OK. So, we'll go to Simon from the UK.
13:45Michael, just since that Real Madrid game, for a lot of people, you've become the favourites to go all the way in the competition.
13:52Just wonder how that tag sits with you and the players.
13:55I think we generated belief that we did it against, again, probably the best opposition that you can face in the competition.
14:05And thus, I generated, I think, enthusiasm and possibilities probably that nobody expected, which is very good.
14:13Phil Pierre?
14:14Hi, Michael. I was going to ask a similar thing.
14:16So, just on that same theme, do you think that Arsenal should be considered the favourites to win the Champions League this year?
14:21Well, I think when you look at the history, we go back to the history. No, because we've never done it.
14:26So, there is so much to do. Hopefully, if somebody believes we can do it, it's because of the performances and what is the team transmitting against the big opposition.
14:36If that's the case, OK.
14:38Is there a question behind, Mr. Chairman?
14:40In French, but in English, yes.
14:44OK.
14:45Bonsoir, Michael.
14:46Mourad Sefiane, pour la Source Parisienne.
14:48On parle souvent de stratégies, de plein de choses, mais est-ce qu'en fin de compte, en demi-finale de Ligue des Champions,
14:54ce n'est pas l'équipe qui va mettre le plus de cœur et le plus d'intensité, qui se qualifie le plus souvent en finale.
14:59Well, there will be a lot of factors. That's one, certainly, the intensity and the understanding of managing emotional moments is very important,
15:07but at the end, you have to play your game, you have to deliver the quality in key moments, to earn the right to win a football match against a very good opposition.
15:16OK. Finally, for Juan from Maka.
15:18Hello, Michael. I know you love the present, but you played in Paris when you were very young.
15:23Which are your remains about that year with Poch and Gabi Heinze?
15:27Just for a curious thing, I know you are focused on this game, but are you aware of the chaos blackout we have in Spain?
15:35Well, one of the best memories that I have as a football player, obviously, was my debut, and it was for PSG.
15:42Forever grateful for the opportunity and the experience that I had, which was incredible.
15:47They just showed me a picture now with some ex-players that I shared, one of them was Ronaldinho as well,
15:52and it's a photo that I cannot take over my head.
15:55And, yeah, again, very grateful.
15:58And regarding what happened in our country, very disappointed, very sad, and hopefully we can resolve that issue immediately.
16:05OK, everyone. Thanks very much. See you tomorrow night.
16:09Good luck.
16:11Thanks great.
16:12Thanks bonobort.
16:23Good luck.