Fabian Hurzeler has reflected on the fallout from his critical comments about Arsenal last week.
The German gave a biting assessment of the approach of the Gunners following their 1-0 triumph at the Amex Stadium, stating timewasting tactics were the latest way that they acted as spoilers instead of trying to play football. It appears that he has toned down the condemnation, but he still stands by his beliefs.
“I think that it is very important to say one thing about that, and I said it in a press conference before the game, that I really admire what Arsenal have achieved so far this season. I really admire seeing Mikel Arteta, his team, his players and all the staff with how they work.
“I will be the first one who will congratulate them if they win the Premier League. I did not want to upset anyone – the staff or the players. But on the other side, I will stick to my thoughts that some things I was not at all happy about and that night, all the numbers give me the confirmation about what I was saying afterwards regarding time wasting. I think we need to find clear rules about that.
“But again, it is very important for me, and I said it to Mikel afterwards, then during the week, that I really admire his work. I really admire what Arsenal are doing and therefore I did not want to create that noise. I just wanted to make my point about how I was feeling. But it has nothing to do with what Arsenal and Mikel Arteta has achieved with his players – that is just incredible, very impressive.
“I said it before the press conference that Arteta is, for me, one of the best managers in the world. I see him as a role model, but it’s still very important to say your opinion, to not hide your opinion.
“Even though we are a smaller club, I think we also should do it because that evening we tried hard to win the game. We faced an Arsenal team that are different things. The next time we have to find a way to beat them and therefore it will be a different challenge.
“But it was important for me to say that I have big respect for everything, for everyone who’s involved in their achievements this season so far. But it’s also on the other side, very important to share an opinion I have inside of me and to stick to my principles.
“I have said it before that I have huge respect and I see [Mikel] as one of the top managers in the Premier League. I love to see them playing and I also admire a lot of elements of what they’re doing.
“I texted him and I said the same thing to him as well, that I have huge respect for everyone from Arsenal and that I will be the first person to congratulate him when they win the Premier League because if they win it, they definitely deserve it.
“But on the other side, there are just things that made me emotional. I am a person who sticks to my principles. I’m a person who sticks to my opinion, although it created a lot of noise. But I think that this is also important in life no matter for who you are working for, to stand by your opinion.
“But on the other side I just told Mikel that I admire what Arsenal are doing and his work and our mutual respect. Nothing should stand in between of us.”