Marcelino ‘not optimistic’ about being offered Arsenal job after face-to-face interview

Former Valencia manager Marcelino has little confidence
that he will be Arsenal ’s next head coach despite sitting
down for an interview with the club’s hierarchy this week.

The Gunners parted company with Unai Emery at the end of
November after he presided over a poor run of form that
was finally ended by interim boss Freddie Ljungberg on
Monday night against West Ham, picking up a first win since
October.

Despite Ljungberg’s victory, Arsenal’s decision-makers are
not believed to be giving serious consideration to offering
him the job full-time and are conducting an extensive search
for a long-term appointment.

Marcelino is one of the names in the frame to take over at
the Emirates permanently, and flew into London on Sunday
to hold face-to-face talks with Arsenal.
However, according to ESPN , Marcelino is ‘not optimistic’
about getting the job following his interview and has come
away feeling that the fact he is Spanish – like axed
compatriot Emery – is a big disadvantage to him.

Arsenal are likely to want to make a big departure from their
last manager, but Emery and Marcelino share a number of
similarities and have very similar career paths, both having
spells in charge of Sevilla and Valencia.Marcelino left the latter in September after falling out with
the club’s owner, Peter Lim, despite having guided the side
to a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

Despite being pessimistic over his chances of getting the
Arsenal job, ESPN also report that he has watched Arsenal
closely since leaving Valencia and would jump at the chance
to manage them.

Marcelino has spent his entire career in Spain and would be
eager to test himself in the Premier League.
Interim boss Ljungberg was asked if he had spoken to
Arsenal’s hierarchy about his future after the win over West
Ham and said: ‘I speak to Edu. We played with each other so
we speak. Of course I don’t have so much staff so I talk to
him sometimes about football.
‘I’ve been told to work on a game-to-game basis. That’s
what I’m trying to do. It’s a club that I love and want to try
and help as much as I can.’