Irish Sunday Mirror

Foxes title was such a big buzz

- BY HARRY PRATT

Leicester v Arsenal Today, 12pm

UNAI EMERY admits he fell in love with English football three years ago when 5000/1 outsiders Leicester City stunned the world by winning the Premier League.

Recalling the way Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester defied the odds to lift the title in 2015-16, Emery spoke of the impact it had on his admiration for our game. The Gunners chief, in charge of Sevilla at the time, said: “I was in Spain and looked at this victory in the Premier League as a huge positive for English football.

“That one club, which is small in comparison to Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester, Arsenal, and Tottenham, can do this and win the league was such a surprise.

“They have players that the best teams in England, Europe and the world would sign… Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell. This is why the Premier League is so good,” he said as he prepared to take his side to the King Power Stadium.

The Arsenal boss hates the idea that a future European Super League might deny a club of similar size to Leicester a place at their table – even if they were domestic champions.

Emery’s comments come in direct response to new plans revealed last week by the European Club Associatio­n with regard to changing the current Champions League format.

The ECA proposals could make the competitio­n a virtual closed shop to clubs not already deemed part of the establishe­d European superpower elite.

The Spaniard (above) said: “The team who wins the championsh­ip deserves to play with the best teams in the world. This is normal.

“We need to keep each domestic championsh­ip as it is and then to do the best European league possible – but always with respect for each domestic championsh­ip.”

 ??  ?? IMPRESSED: Gunners manager Unai Emery
IMPRESSED: Gunners manager Unai Emery

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