Antoine is the mann for United
Willian says he and Chelsea could have done better, but victory over Gunners would make season a success after all
FROM BACK PAGE of signing Borussia Dortmund and England forward Jadon Sancho, playmaker Griezmann has emerged as the ideal alternative.
Despite United not being able to offer Champions League football next season, following their sixth-place finish in the Premier League, Griezmann could be tempted by the prospect of being the ball-playing star around who Solskjaer intends to rebuild his new-look team.
Signing Griezmann, who is a close friend of United’s £89m record-signing Paul Pogba, would also give the Reds a boost in their efforts to keep their France midfielder amid serious interest from Real Madrid this summer.
Griezmann’s boyhood hero was former United and England legend David Beckham and the Reds could try to entice him to Old Trafford with the promise of his idol’s iconic No.7 shirt.
Current holder Alexis Sanchez is set to free it up by leaving this summer. WILLIAN admits Chelsea should have done better – and it will only be a good season if they finish by winning a European trophy.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri finds himself under pressure even though the club finished third, qualified for the Champions League, and reached the League Cup and Europa League finals.
It is a campaign which would satisfy players and supporters of most clubs, but there is still a sense of underachievement because Chelsea are so used to winning silverware.
Willian was honest about his own form and the team’s performances, but says beating Arsenal in Baku would transform their season from disappointment to success. The Brazil star said: “I know that it has not been my best season, it was OK but it wasn’t top. I know I can play much better.
“Not only me, but the whole squad, it wasn’t our best season. We all know we can do better. But at the end we set some targets and we reached some of them.
“We reached the Carabao Cup final, reached the third position in the Premier League and now we have the Europa League final to play. And if you see at the end that we have won the trophy, then I think it’s been a good season.
“We have reached the Champions League and can win a European trophy. It is a good season, even though we always want more.”
Willian scored 13 goals last season, but has only eight to his name this campaign, with just three coming in the league.
He is also yet to win a European trophy with the club he has served for six years and wants to finish his career at Stamford Bridge.
It is easy to assume that there is more at stake for Arsenal because winning the Europa League is also a passport back into the Champions League as they finished fifth and missed automatic qualification.
But Willian says Chelsea are highly motivated and must not be distracted by the controversy of the game being played in Baku.
The 30-year-old attacker added: “I think it doesn’t matter where we play, we have to play the same way, stay focused all of the time and go there to win. That’s what we want.
“A European final and a Premier League game. A London derby in Baku. It will be a bit strange, but I think it will be good to show some of the best of the Premier League to the rest of Europe.
“But we have to go there with the right mentality.
“We have to be strong and do everything possible to win this game. We are already motivated because it’s always good to win finals, always good to win trophies and this group of players has done that for many years,” added Willian, who has already two Premier League winning medals, an FA Cup and a League Cup winner’s medal, and 65 international caps in his trophy cabinet.
“It’s a derby game against Arsenal, who have a great team with great players, and we have to do everything possible to win.
“It’s always difficult to play against them. They have a good squad, and this will be a very difficult game and we have to do everything possible to win.
“Don’t worry, the motivation is high for us as well. This is not about the Champions League for us.
“We want to win another trophy, a European trophy and so it’s going to be a very good game and we believe we can do it.”