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Unai Emery Was 'Difficult' to Work with at PSG, Says Marco Verratti

Christopher Simpson

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti says he is happy under Thomas Tuchel's stewardship in the French capital after finding it "difficult" to work with Unai Emery last year. 

Emery left the club after winning a domestic treble in France last season and subsequently joined Arsenal.

Verratti told Le Parisien he has found life better since the Spaniard moved on (h/t Mirror's Jack Rathborn):

"This year, we have a good relationship with the coach and the staff. Each manager has a different way of doing things with his players, of making them understand things. Sometimes with Emery, things were quite difficult.

"Yes I think [there was a difference in personalities]. Tuchel isn't playing around, but coming to a training session with a shut-off face, that doesn't work. We have found our smile again, we had lost it a little."

Emery is known for his meticulous approach to training, as well as making his players sit through long videos analysing their opponents, which could have rubbed up Verratti the wrong way.

The 46-year-old believes he has had a positive response from his players at Arsenal, though:

The Gunners beat Watford 2-0 to extend their winning streak to seven matches, including five in the Premier League:

Arsenal haven't been as dominant as such a run would suggest, but under predecessor Arsene Wenger, they likely wouldn't have been able to consistently pull off such results without playing at their best.

As for Verratti, he will be hoping Tuchel can guide PSG to success in the UEFA Champions League this term.

The Parisians have won Ligue 1 in five of the past six seasons and have won every domestic cup competition available four years running, but they have yet to reach the semi-final in Europe's premier competition since Qatar Sports Investments' takeover in 2011.

If the other players feel the same as Verratti in being happier under Tuchel than they were under Emery, that could make the difference.

   

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