Unai Emery admits he is still learning as a manager and the Paris St Germain coach has revealed that Arsene Wenger is the main man he looks up to.
The pair go head-to-head at the Parc des Princes tomorrow night as they get their Champions League campaigns up and running, and the PSG boss is relishing the prospect of trying to outwit a coach he considers 'an inspiration'.
Emery took charge at PSG in the summer having won the Europa League three years in succession at Sevilla, but his reign in France has started with a stutter and the Ligue 1 champions sit seventh after taking one point from their last two outings.
Given the club's recent successes, Emery could soon find himself under a little pressure but he concedes he is still learning his trade as he aims to emulate the longevity of Wenger - who marks his 20-year anniversary in charge of the Gunners next month.
"I have been attending UEFA coach meetings for years now and I admire him," he said of Wenger at his pre-match press conference. I'm 44, quite young, and trying to learn still - I've been speaking with the best coaches in Europe over that time and that includes Wenger.
"I have a lot of respect for his longevity. It's not very common - there was Sir Alex Ferguson - but we'd all like to be in a similar situation to Arsene Wenger."
Tuesday's hosts could receive a timely boost with the return to fitness of Thiago Silva. The Brazil international has not played for his club since a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid but Emery is keen for him to be involved.
"Big matches are for big players," he added. "We will decide after the final training session. We will see how he feels. The most important thing is if he feels ready. He is a big player. If he feels good, it is a possibility."
Source: PA
