Interview with Emmanuel Petit: Arteta must win major trophy this season for players to keep faith with his methods

In an exclusive interview with Casino Utan Splepaus, World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit believes Mikel Arteta must win a major trophy at Arsenal this season for players to keep faith with his methods.

The ex-Arsenal winger also doubts his former club can sign a striker in January, and blasts the summer business by the north London club.

Premier League observations

Q: Thoughts on the title race, is it Liverpool’s title to lose?

Emmanuel Petit: ”The race for the Premier League is not over yet. When you look at Liverpool, they have a six-point advantage, with a game in hand against Everton. That doesn’t mean that they will win easily at Goodison Park. That is a derby and they just changed manager as well. That could be extra motivation for Everton. We all know that it’s never easy to travel away at Goodison Park.

For the moment, Liverpool have a six-point cushion. When I look at Liverpool’s schedule, they have been struggling in the last few weeks in terms of results. And then the Champions League is coming back. When I look at the schedule, they will face a top, top team during the last six months of the Premier League. The biggest enemy for Liverpool is themselves.

They have their destiny in their hands. So if they do the right things, they will be champions. But the fight in the Premier League, everything goes so fast. You never know what will happen. So, six points is not a big target to reach. Even if it’s nine points, Arsenal have to play against Liverpool in the second part of the season. You never know what can happen. The fact that Arsenal is not involved in the FA Cup and could be heading out of the League Cup, that may help them focus on the Premier League.”

Q: Who has been the best central midfielder in the Premier League this season?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Well, I would probably say Gravenberch from Liverpool and Caicedo at Chelsea.

Caicedo, from what happened since he joined Chelsea, this season he has been a rock in the midfield. He was a little bit tired recently, but from the start of the season, I think he has been amazing.

Gravenberch changed his position as well. You can see that the confidence is completely different with Slot than it was with Klopp. I think he needed one year to settle perfectly into the first eleven. Also, Slot changed the way they played. They play with more composure; you know it’s not now in transition all the time. They control the ball more, in terms of position. So that suits him the most. You can see that he has become a very, very good player at Liverpool and is a crucial part of the midfield and the way that Slot wants to play.”

Q: The Premier League is full of young talents. Who is the player or players that you’re most excited by and looking forward to develop over the coming seasons?

Emmanuel Petit: ”There are a couple of young players in the Premier League that I’m very excited about.

The Premier League is full of young talents. Some of them have emerged over the last two seasons. Last season, it was all about Cole Palmer at Chelsea. He was amazing last year, and he has continued on the same path this season. What a player.

Looking at this season, I would probably say Lewis-Skelly, the left-back at Arsenal. He’s so young, but he plays with so much maturity and energy. I like the way he takes decisions with the ball all the time.

I would say Amad Diallo at Manchester United is another one that looks like he can flourish in the Premier League. I was very impressed with his game against Liverpool last week.

Liam Delap is the third name. I’ve been really impressed by him and what he has done this season, his first in the Premier League. When I see what Delap is doing at Ipswich, they are fighting, they are in the relegation zone. They would have been in a worse situation at Ipswich without his goals.

When you look at the way Ipswich is playing, I have the feeling that if you put that guy into a different team with different players alongside him, he would be probably competing for the best striker in the Premier League right now.

Those three guys are very exciting.”

Q: On the other side of the coin, who is the player or players that have been the biggest flop/you’ve expected more from this season?

Emmanuel Petit: ”It’s hard to say for me that he’s been a flop because he’s been injured. He played for 45 minutes with Liverpool this weekend, but Federico Chiesa.

I love that guy with Italy, with Juventus. I love his energy, the way he plays, the movement he brings on the pitch, the character and personality. At the moment, because of his injuries, it has been frustrating for him in the Premier League.

For me, it’s hard to say he’s a flop because he’s been injured for such a long time.

I hope he will stay away from injuries until the end of the season. He is the first name that comes to mind when I think about players that I have expected more from. What he has done or hasn’t done this season, it’s so far from what the Liverpool fans would have expected from him.”

Transfer title tattle

Q: Neymar’s contract is expiring soon. The last few years have been a time to forget for the Brazilian. Can you see him making a move back to Europe in the summer or is he destined for a move to the USA?

Emmanuel Petit: ”I don’t want to be too harsh because I love Neymar the player. He had been very good during his first season at Paris Saint-Germain but when Messi came, so did the critics. I think his behaviour sometimes was not right off the pitch. He sent so many bad messages, especially with the poker situation.

I think it’s better for him to go to America. To join Messi at Miami, to reunite with those guys, with Luis Suarez. Let’s see MSN get together for one last dance. Why not? The players would love it, the fans would love it.

I think it would be much better for him to be in a big villa in Miami, having some barbecue and playing some football games in the sun.”

Q: Randal Kolo Muani is a man wanted by several Premier League clubs. Spurs are interested, Man United are interested, possibly Arsenal – who should he choose and would his game suit England?

Emmanuel Petit: ”I like this guy, Randal Kolo Muani. I like the player, but I think it’s been a nightmare for him in terms of confidence with Luis Enrique’s management at PSG. He has lost his confidence.

The main problem with him is probably the lack of confidence. Luis Enrique didn’t want to play with a proper striker. He prefers to play with a false nine.

I loved what Randal Kolo Muani did in Germany. I like it every time he wears a national shirt, because he does something good.

If you put him into a different environment, that could be something good as well. I’m still wondering about his ability to be clinical in front of goal. As I said, I think it is linked with a lack of confidence? Like the criticism of Ousmane Dembele had, but Dembele has changed a lot. Look at the last few weeks, he has scored many goals.

Players can change, human beings can change as well, if put in the right environment. If he decides to leave because he has no choice, he has to make the right choice. He has to be very careful about the environment of the club he chooses to join, the team, the manager, every single detail has to be analysed in the right way.

His next move for me is very important because he’s losing his quality on the pitch. The next step in the right direction could be in the Premier League. There are many clubs that would be happy to receive Kolo Muani, but they will have to be a little bit patient with him because it’s been a nightmare for him in Paris. His fortune and form change very quickly, but he has to be in the right environment.”

Arsenal

Q: On FA Cup loss to Manchester United

I was very unhappy with it, very frustrated because I think Arsenal should have won that game. They had the penalty miss by Odegaard and a couple of great chances for Kai Havertz and one for Trossard. Declan Rice also had a couple of chances that he probably should have put away. Playing against 10 men on the pitch as well for so much time. So now I’m very frustrated.”

Q: Is Arsenal’s profligacy the main problem or are there other things to be worried about?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Arsenal keep missing chances and it’s costing them; it was the case for so many games this season. If you compare games from the start of the season, they’ve dropped too many points because they haven’t been able to score goals. Against Everton at home they dropped points, every time they play, they have to create so many chances to score goals. They should be more clinical in front of the goal. The striker position comes back every single game.”

Q: In your mind, is that something they need to look at in January, even if it’s short term? I mean, it’s a very difficult month to do a deal, of course, but do they need something?

Emmanuel Petit: ”They should have addressed that in the last transfer window. They should have bought a striker. I know that they extended the quality of the squad with a couple of players, but they added to positions they were well covered in. They signed Calafiori, but they already had two or three players that could play at left back.

I’m a big fan of Calafiori but when you look at it, when you look at the young guy Lewis-Skelly, he’s doing so well, and Zinchenko is on the bench most of the time, so they had that part of the pitch covered.

I can understand that when you play every three days and you have to compete in every competition, that you need squad depth, but the striker position was a priority. I didn’t know why Arsenal didn’t go for a proper striker last summer.”

Q: That’s the big debate. That’s what a lot of fans are asking themselves as well. It’s very frustrating when you’re dominating games and you’re missing so many chances.

Emmanuel Petit: ”Arsenal won’t be able to bring in the top, top quality striker they desire in January. They won’t be able to do it. I know they have some wingers and strikers on their shopping list, I know the fans are desperate to see someone coming in who can convert all the chances that the team creates, but it’s not going to happen in January. The January market is a very difficult market to shop in.

It’s very difficult and, on top of that, every time you get a player in January, it’s rare to see that player have an impact on the team straight away. I can’t remember the last time a player joined in January and settled immediately; it was probably Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United. Straight away he became an important player, but most of the time, it takes weeks and months.”

Q: Arsenal’s trophy focus

Emmanuel Petit: ”The fact that Arsenal is not involved in the FA Cup and could be heading out of the League Cup, that may help them focus on the Premier League and it may help them because they have a few injuries.

In the meantime, Arsenal have to solve their own problems if they want to compete in the title race.

I’ve been saying that for months, as a former player I know that when you work so hard for three, four seasons and when you come so close to being champions, if the same things keep happening, it’s going to be very difficult for Arteta the next season to keep his players motivated if they don’t win something at the end of the season.

I won’t put pressure on Arsenal and Arteta, but I can understand the frustration and Arteta will be frustrated as well. The problems are stacking up and Gabriel Jesus getting injured doesn’t help. That gives him more problems in attack, and that is a headache for the manager.

The title race is not over but Arsenal has to be much better on the pitch, which means the pressure will be on the players but also on Arteta. He knows as a manager that the last time he won something that was five years ago when they won the FA Cup.

Now they are not involved in the FA Cup, and they have a mountain to climb in the League Cup, which means Arsenal must put all their energy on the Premier League.

They need to put pressure on Liverpool, definitely. It is a big task for the players and Arteta, but Arteta knows that he has to win something at the end of the season.

So now they are not involved in the national cups, which means they have to put all the energy to get back and to put pressure on Liverpool, definitely. It would be a big task for the players and Arteta, but Arteta knows that he has to do something at the end of the season.”

Q: If they don’t win anything, do you think Arteta will get the same motivation from the players next season? Will the fans still believe in Arteta’s work?

Emmanuel Petit: ”I have a huge respect for Arteta and what he has done so far for the club, but something has to change. We will see what happens at the end of the season, but there are only two options. Either he wins the Champions League or the Premier League. I think it will be very difficult to get either of them, but that is the challenge.

The Premier League is more realistic than the Champions League. I think there is still a chance to do something. So put every bit of energy and every single effort into that competition because I think there is a chance to be champions.”

Q: Should Arsenal gamble on Rashford given the potential long-term absence of Bukayo Saka? Could you see it working for Rashford at Arsenal? Is it a risk worth taking?

Emmanuel Petit: ”I really like Rashford, but I don’t know what’s been going on in his mind for months now.

I think he has lost his desire, his motivation. So, do you think Rashford is exactly what Arsenal needs right now? Arsenal is not a retirement home. You need someone that can add something to the team straight away. Do you think Rashford will be able to do that right now? Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m not sure about that.

If Arsenal do business in January, they need someone that can change the situation on the pitch, that can take decisions. Someone who has the personality and the character to change the game.”

Q: Is there a player in Europe who you think Arsenal should do whatever it takes to sign this window?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Definitely Isak. But I’m pretty sure Newcastle won’t let him go.

From an Arsenal perspective, they need to realise that actually it’s still all to play for in the Premier League and for me this week is absolutely huge. Wednesday at home to Spurs, and Villa on Saturday again at home. I think two positive results there and the whole mood changes, but they need to do something. They’ve got to win those games.

But if I look at the schedule for Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Wolves. Then the Champions League game. Then Manchester City, Newcastle.

The next three or four weeks will determine if Arsenal are good enough to compete for the Premier League. Simple as that.”

Arsenal have been linked with a move for a wide attacking player this month. Kingsley Coman and Lee Kang-In are two names that have been mentioned, would either be good additions for your old club?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Lee is a good player but he’s not a regular first team player for Luis Enrique at PSG. He’s been playing more often recently. He’s got quality, he’s confident with the ball. I can understand why Arsenal are interested in him because he’s got the skills to fit into the DNA of Arsenal, but I’m talking about top players that can bring you to the next step. Kang-in Lee is not that kind of player, I’m sorry to say that. I’m bored and tired that these players have been linked with Arsenal. I’m thinking, well, can we do something that the top clubs are doing?

It’s not a question of money. I think Arsenal has spent more than £700 million on the transfer market. They have bought some very good players recently, starting with Declan Rice. You need to get the same type, the same profile of player, with top quality, match winners.

If Arsenal do business in January, they need someone that can change the situation on the pitch, that can take decisions. Someone who has the personality and the character to change the game.

Kang-in Lee, I have a big respect for him. He’s a really, really nice guy, good player. But listen, I’m quite tired of it. I just want to see a big name, a big prospect. Young players, or players with pedigree. Something that we could be very excited about. That can send a strong message in the dressing room and to Arsenal’s rivals as well.”

Q: Arsenal vs Tottenham

Emmanuel Petit: ”The next game against Spurs is coming at the right time. Either you get the right result all together with the right mentality on the pitch, or you don’t. The game against Tottenham will tell us if Arsenal’s players are ready to fight for the title this season. They absolutely must win that game on Wednesday night.”

Q: If you could take one Tottenham player and put them in the Arsenal team, who would you pick and why?

Emmanuel Petit: ”No, I wouldn’t take any Tottenham players and put them in the Arsenal starting eleven. I was about to say Son, but the Son from back in the day, not the Son that we see this season. If you look at the first eleven of Spurs and the first eleven of Arsenal, I won’t change Arsenal’s first eleven. Definitely.

So, leave the Spurs players at Tottenham. That’s why I think that this game on Wednesday is a huge game for Arsenal. For the fans as well, for everything that happened recently at the club. For the derby, for the situation between the two clubs historically. But in the meantime, saying that I won’t pick any Spurs player to improve the first eleven of Arsenal means that on the paper Arsenal will come with confidence and they will fight, until the end, to win that game.

If I am an Arsenal player, I will analyse the situation right now, I will prepare myself mentally, and I will convince myself there are no results except win. We have to win that game. It’s as simple as that. So, whatever you do on the pitch, I don’t care. I don’t mind, but you have to win that game.

That’s it. I’m pretty sure Arteta will send this message into the dressing room before the game. He will say, ‘Guys, we know we are struggling. We know that we are out of the FA Cup, nearly out of the League Cup, now we are only concentrating now on the Champions League and the Premier League. We have to fight until the end in every single game.’

I don’t care what you do on the pitch, but you have to win. Simple as that.

So, all together, forget what happens after the game in the dressing room. I want this energy on the pitch, not in the dressing room.”

Chelsea

Q: Do you have any concerns about Chelsea’s ability to finish in the top four after their poor December?

Emmanuel Petit: ”No, I don’t have any concerns about Chelsea’s ability to finish in the top four this season. For me, they will finish in the top four. They have the quality. I know they lack experience but look what they’ve done so far and how far they’ve come from last season.

Okay, they’re young. They probably have the youngest team in the Premier League. Look what they’ve done so far together. Look how they reversed the situation. You can argue that they are lacking experience, but in the meantime, how do you explain what they’ve done so far?

Maresca has made a huge impact in the dressing room by making strong decisions, also sending messages to his players. At the end, the players are on the pitch, not the manager.”

Q: On Chelsea’s December struggles

Emmanuel Petit: ”I know they have been struggling with recent results. They dropped a lot of points. That can be explained by a lack of energy and a lack of consistency of some players in their position, especially from the right back and left back, because they are very important in Maresca’s system.

Up front, the striker Jackson, I know that he received a lot of criticism for the lack of a clinical touch in the penalty area, but he has scored a decent amount of goals this season.

There are many reasons why Chelsea struggled over the last month, they are a young team competing at the highest level.

Is the title race over for them? I’m not sure. As I said, for Arsenal and with Liverpool, when you look at the schedule for Liverpool, you look at the way that the last games have gone for them, they conceded the first goal all the time.

You never know what can happen in the Premier League. Liverpool play against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. They have difficult games on the horizon. Things can happen very quickly in the Premier League.

So far, I’m very happy with what Maresca and Chelsea are doing. I’m confident they will finish in the top four.”

Q: Do you see Maresca prioritising a centre forward like Viktor Gyokeres or even a massive bid for Alexander Isaak? Or should Chelsea stick with signing younger stars in the making like Liam Delap who they are believed to covet or stick with Nicolas Jackson plus give Christopher Nkunku a chance?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Why do Chelsea need to sign a new striker? What for? Explain to me because last season he scored, 14 Premier League goals in his first season and he’s got nine already this season. I think he’s doing well.

He had a really decent season last season, honestly. Remember the situation of Chelsea last season. It was not easy for the players to handle the situation. With Maresca in the driving seat, his management has been ruthless.

There is a lot of pressure at Chelsea, the players are young, they are learning. They come from different countries with different mentalities, step by step they are improving. Chelsea don’t need to go out and sign another striker, they should have confidence in Jackson.

If they win something, like the Conference league for example, if they do something until the end of the season in the Premier League, that will improve their confidence. If more players can improve their quality on the pitch, that will be very good for Jackson as well.

The left back, Cucurella, and the right back as well, neither didn’t perform very well the last few weeks. You need those kinds of players on the flanks to help him.

Be patient with Jackson. I really like this striker. I think if you give him the passion and the love, if you give him the confidence, you will see he will improve.”

Q: Have you been surprised that Chelsea haven’t used Nkunku that much this year? He’s been linked as well with a move from Stamford Bridge.

Emmanuel Petit: ”I really like this player. I really like Christopher Nkunku. I followed him when he was playing in Germany, and I think he did great over there for many seasons.

If he avoided being injured, then he would have had the opportunity or the chance to play more regularly in the team, and that would have help with his confidence as well. The competition to earn your place at Chelsea is so hard. This is the main problem.

I’m not sure what Chelsea wants to do during this transfer market. I’m not sure what they want to do at the end of the season. At the moment, Nkunku is not the priority.

Don’t forget he’s got the ability and quality to be a very good player for the club.”

Q: What would constitute success for Chelsea this season and how well has Maresca done so far?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Being back in the Champions League at the end of the season would be a successful season for Chelsea. Step by step, if they can compete until the end for the Premier League that would be cherry on the cake.

I’m pretty sure they will win the Europa Conference, so they will get silverware at the end of the season, whatever happens. That will bring more confidence in Maresca’s work at the club and the sporting vision at the club for the last two seasons.

I know it’s been ruthless, in terms of management, but that’s how the big clubs work now. This is the way they work.

For me, they will finish in the top four and they will win silverware in European competition, which means step by step, improving the team, improving the confidence and the quality of the team, the spine of the team.

This is exactly what Chelsea are doing and the prospect of Chelsea with that bench of young talented players, honestly, the potential in front of them is huge.

What they’re doing is very good and they will be even better in the future. If they keep on doing what they’re doing and I’m pretty sure they will, they will probably be the team to beat in the future.”

Q: Are Chelsea too reliant on Cole Palmer? Not only is he their top scorer but he’s also got the most assists as well.

Emmanuel Petit: ”Yeah, Chelsea are very reliant on Cole Palmer but it doesn’t matter. Top clubs always have one or two players that they count on more than the rest. Look at Liverpool with Mo Salah, look at Real Madrid with Vinicius last season, with Lamine Yamal at Barcelona. Those kinds of players are top players. You always need one or two players.

You need very good players, and on top of that you need special players that can change a situation, that can make a big impact, that can take the decision on the pitch.

Cole Palmer is one of them.

So, for me, I don’t mind if he keeps this role and is the man they look for. The most important thing is not saying Chelsea are too reliant on Cole Palmer. Cole Palmer should be an example for the rest of his teammates in the dressing room. They have to follow his lead. They have to follow the way he takes responsibility in games.

Some players have improved a lot since last season, Caicedo for example. It’s pieces after pieces. This has to be the reflection of what Cole Palmer is doing on the pitch. This is why he so important for the club, because he’s the talisman of this team. He’s young as well, he’s got huge ambition, personal ambition, that is something that a manager needs in a dressing room.”

Manchester United

Q: Ruben Amorim has been there now for a few months. What have you made of his start to life in Manchester?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Listen, last week I watched the game against Liverpool. It was such a great game. That was probably the best performance that I’ve seen from Manchester United for years.

Most of the time I disagree with Bruno Fernandes. What he said after the game, I totally agreed with him. He said after the game, ‘How can we play so well against the Premier League leader, the Champions League leader and then be so bad at home to the likes of Bournemouth and Newcastle?’

He was frustrated with his teammates and probably his own performances because let’s be honest, United have been so bad this season. They went to Liverpool, who are probably the best team in Europe right now and they should have left Anfield with three points.

How did they do it? By playing as a team, by showing character, personality, but also quality on the pitch. Honestly, if you can do that against Liverpool, then you are able to do that against every single team. That is the main problem at Manchester United – they are capable of turning it on against the bug boys but let themselves down against teams they should be beating.

United’s consistency and application was a serious problem when Amorim walked through the door, Ten Hag had the same problems. There were so many doubts about the United players desire and application. Mentality, motivation, there were question marks.

The United players, they need to understand that when you play for Manchester United, you must understand what it means to wear that shirt, which means take responsibility. Embrace pressure. The players take the wages, so take the responsibility as well.

The players knew before the Liverpool game that it was such a huge game for them and for the fans and they responded very well on the pitch. So, you have to prepare yourself the same way in every single game. It doesn’t matter if it’s not Liverpool, if it’s not Arsenal, if it’s not Manchester City. You have to do that against Ipswich, you have to do that against Brentford and you need to do it this week against Southampton.”

Q: Are you impressed with Amad Diallo and can he be a legitimate global star? Is he that good?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Amad Diallo, he reminds me of Saka when he first started with Arsenal. The way he plays, his personality, the quality, his movements, the flair he’s got into the pitch, the linking up he can bring to his teammates and the combinations. What an exciting prospect!

You can see that every time he touches the ball, his teammates want to give it to him again, and again and again. That’s the mark of a great player, when your teammates trust you and want to get you on the ball all the time. So, I’m a huge fan of his.

It’s hard to say that for me because I love Arsenal, but I’m very excited when I watch this kind of players on the pitch, and you put your loyalties to one side if you love the game like I do. Amad has an amazing future.

A player like Amad is the reason why fans pay to watch football. Players like Amad are why you go to watch football in the stadium, why you watch games in front of your television. Players like this can bring out emotions, and they’ve got this winning mentality. I love him.”

Q: What’s the latest on Paul Pogba? The rumours have gone quiet on him – do you know if he’s heading towards signing with a club are your surprised that no one has moved for him yet and can you see him coming back to the Premier League with a point to prove?

Emmanuel Petit: ”There is big speculation about Pogba joining Marseille. Marseille, they are doing great in the transfer market. With the new Sports Director, the former player, Medhi Benatia, who just signed a new contract at the club.

He has done such a great job at Marseille, bringing some very exciting and good players into the team.

Playing for Marseille is something special, you know. This city lives for the club. They are so passionate about football and about their club. You can see that every single time they play at home in front of almost 60,000 people. The atmosphere is amazing. That reminds me of back in the day, when I had to play with Monaco for the title at the Velodrome. The atmosphere was volcanic. I loved it.

So, you must have the character to play over there because the storm is not very far away. It always comes in Marseille, but it’s been months now that we only speak about Marseille for the right reasons, not the bad reasons.

Coming back to Pogba, he’s been linked probably with a move over there, but I know that he’s training alone, he’s doing hard work, he’s very fit but it’s a big difference working in the gym compared to working on the pitch with your teammates.

When was the last time he touched a ball? It was 18 months ago with Juventus which means It will be a gamble. I love when you get a player with a feeling of revenge, that their image has been destroyed, for the last two seasons, starting with Manchester United.

You have no idea what happened the last few weeks here in France in court with his family, his brother. I’m not talking about Pogba the player, I’m talking about Pogba the human being. He might have had an earthquake in his head for years now. So now people have understood why he was not performing well on the pitch. His mind was not there anymore.

Everything has exploded. So, you can imagine his feelings, and you can imagine on top of this his desire to come back, to improve his name, his reputation, his image.

If I am a manager of a club, it would be interesting because we all know the quality of the footballer when everything is set up in his mind. We all know what kind of player he can be on the pitch, which means it can be a gamble. He knows that he will have to accept less money than what he is used too. No problem. He cannot make a great deal financially at the moment. For any club that signs him, it would have to be a deal with a club that will help him come back the way he was before.

It’s a win-win deal for any club. Do what you have to do on the pitch, we will help as much as we can to come back to the level you were before.”

Q: Do you think France is more likely destination than the Premier League?

Emmanuel Petit: ”I think it’s too soon for Pogba to come back to the Premier League. The image he left when he left Manchester United was not good enough. He was under such criticism and scrutiny all the time.

For me, coming back to Ligue 1 would probably be the best decision for him. If he goes to Marseille with the passion of the club, the fans, that’s something that can help him to come back step by step.”

West Ham

Do you think former Chelsea boss Graham Potter will be a success at West Ham?

Emmanuel Petit: ”I’ve been waiting for Graham Potter to come back into the game. When he was at Chelsea, it was like working in a washing machine. He struggled in that environment.

He didn’t have the experience to manage that kind of player, that kind of ego. It was not a good environment as well, inside and outside the club.

I think it was really bad timing for him. Coming back with West Ham, to be honest with you, I have no idea why the board sacked Moyes. They showed him the door after he won a European cup. How can it be? You bring silverware. I can’t remember the last time they won something. You’re a European champion. Thank you very much, but you have to go. Why?

You’ve got to be careful what you wish for in football, I think.”

Q: Potter has proper ideas about how to play football

Emmanuel Petit: ”West Ham have quality players. I think the money they spent as well, they improved the team. It didn’t work with Lopetegui, but I think it will with Potter. I want to see what he will do with the players. I was a huge fan of what he did at Brighton. I liked the system he wanted to work with.

He has proper ideas on the pitch. This is something that the players were missing. They didn’t know what to do on the pitch. They didn’t know what kind of system they had to play. Lopetegui was like, ‘Okay, I will pick the first 11 and hope for the best.’ It doesn’t work like that in football. You have to bring something else.

I think Potter has a very clear vision of what he wants to do with his players on the pitch, that is something very important for the players.

Give him time to work with his players. He’s coming in during the middle of the season, so the timing isn’t ideal because for him to get his ideas across properly, he would have preferred a pre-season.

We all know what he did with Brighton. Forget what he did with Chelsea because, honestly, they changed so many managers over the last few years. It was a nightmare over there. Enzo Maresca came with the right vision; they changed everything at the club and you can see the difference on the pitch now. So, give the time to Potter to do what he wants to do with the players.”

Liverpool

Q: On Liverpool, they’ve got all of the kind of the noise around Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah. Could they potentially be vulnerable in the second half of the season. Could they have a blip?

Emmanuel Petit: ”I know from experience that when your top players, iconic players, run down their contracts, the situation can bring a lot of uncertainty in the dressing room.

I know that Mo Salah has made some bizarre comments recently. He’s free now, he can sign for anybody, but I’m pretty sure that he’s still expecting a sign with his club, Liverpool.

It’s a very difficult situation for the board to be honest with you. I wouldn’t love to be on the board regarding these situations. I would love to know the discussions. What will they do with Mo? He’s probably having the best season he’s ever had at the club, he’s been so amazing for Liverpool since he signed. Do the club offer him two more years with the same wages? He’s 32. It’s a big gamble.

I want to believe that the commitment of Mo Salah, the link with the fans, the link Mo Salah has with the club is so strong, that I know that he always wants to be the best on the pitch. In terms of motivation, I have no doubt about it.

I know that it’s very difficult for the board to make a decision. I think they should give him a chance. He’s so loved by the fans, he’s so loved by his teammates as well, so this is something rare. It doesn’t matter if you’re 32. In the history of football, you have top, top players who have been amazing for their clubs and they had to deal with the same situation. Some clubs decided to open the door and say it’s time for you to leave. Some clubs decided to keep the player because of the impact they could have on their teammates, as well as on the fans.

I think Mo Salah with his mentality, his commitment to the club, I think he deserves the chance to stay. He should be given a new contract.”

Q: On Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future

Emmanuel Petit: ”He’s been at Liverpool for such a long time. His game against Manchester United was a nightmare. He responded well during the FA Cup, but I’m still wondering what is his best position is on the pitch? For me, he’s not a right-back. He’s not a proper defender, but he’s so good with the ball.

So, do you offer him a huge contract? I know he’s been linked with Real Madrid. Honestly, if he goes over there, they don’t forgive anything at Real Madrid. He will go over there, and the fans and the club will tell Trent, forget what you’ve done with Liverpool so far. You won silverware in Liverpool. You were a Champions League winner. You were a Premier League winner. Forget that. That is exactly what happened to me when I went to Barcelona. They told me, forget what you’ve done so far. You start on a new page. So now you have to write history with us.

If Trent does what he does defensively at Real Madrid, they will kill him. It doesn’t matter if he gives assists or if he scores goals, they will kill him.

Look what happened yesterday at the Super Cup final? Oh my God. Defensively, it was a nightmare to watch for Real Madrid. So, can you imagine Trent Alexander-Arnold in this mess? After two, three games, they will kill him. If I was Trent Alexander-Arnold, I would think about it twice.”

Q: On Virgil van Dijk’s future

Emmanuel Petit:Van Dijk, he’s been a rock. I know that he was probably the best defender in the world three or four years ago when Liverpool were Champions League winners, and he deserved it. He was the best defender in the world. After that, the last two or three seasons he was so-so. He was, I think for me, lacking humility on the pitch.

Now he’s been a rock again. Look at his reaction all the time against Manchester United. Every single game he’s the captain of the defence. He’s the rock in the defence. He screams at his teammates all the time. He was so annoyed about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Manchester United.

This is how top players act on the pitch. When they see that teammates are behaving in a bad way on the pitch, then you have to tell them, you have to ask them, ‘What are you doing on the pitch?’

This is exactly what happened with the national team, with Arsenal, during my career. I don’t expect the manager to step up and say something in the dressing room at halftime. I expect players to say it on the pitch. He does that. He acts as a leader. I would give him an extra contract at Liverpool.”

Q: What do you think Liverpool need to do about any recruitment in January regarding potential signings – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the hot topic at the moment.

Emmanuel Petit: ”How many players do they want Liverpool up front? At the end of the day, you can only play with 11 players. I’m a huge fan of Kvaratskhelia.

I watched him as well with Georgia. I think he’s been tremendous for them. He’s probably one of the best players in Serie A. If I am Kvaratskhelia, I’m thinking, where I am going to play? Am I going to play every single game?

Maybe he looks at some other clubs in Europe, starting with Paris Saint-Germain. This is exactly what Paris Saint-Germain needs. That kind of quality player. The system that Luis Enrique wants to play, I think will fit him perfectly.

So, it’s not a surprise for me that some Paris Saint-Germain players are on the market actually. Kang-in Lee has been linked with an exit, but there is also the French guy, Randal Kolo Muani. He is not in Luis Enrique’s mind anymore, hasn’t been for months. I think the door is open for Kvaratskhelia to join Paris Saint-Germain.”

Man City

Q: Man City could potentially spend £40m+ on Abdukodir Khusanov. Is this panic buying or part of a long-term transfer plan?

Emmanuel Petit: ”Abdukodir Khusanov, he’s so fast. Okay, is that a panic buy or is that a good signing? I think it’s a clever signing if City can do a deal because this guy is a talent.

I think Paris Saint-Germain wanted him as well. This is how some clubs are working. It reminds me of Brentford or Brighton, the way they work. They take an unknown player from somewhere, and all of a sudden, they become a star in the team, rock. And this is exactly what happened with Khusanov, with Lens.

I know that Lens needs money. They are struggling about that. This is why they have sold Samba, who I think is the best goalkeeper in France. I know that they want to sell some bankable players, and Khusanov is one of them because they bought him for pennies.

Now they want to sell him for about 40 or 50 million euros, something like that. He is so fast, he’s a hard man, he’s strong in the duels. He’s a nightmare for strikers.

This guy plays with such anger. He wants to hit everyone on the pitch because he’s coming from a poor country, poor background. He just got a name for himself this season with Lens. He feels like he has something to prove.

He knows that he can play at the highest level. His motivation hasn’t stopped. He would be a very good signing for any club, because he is a quality defender, he can be a top defender. His quality is, as I said, fighting, understanding of movement, but as well, his speed.”