Marco Verratti says things were ‘complicated’ under Unai Emery and insists the team have a good understanding with Thomas Tuchel.

Speaking to Le Parisien, Verratti talked about the differences he’s noticed between the two managers so far. Emery left PSG earlier this year, after two seasons and seven trophies with the side. Tuchel took his place, and Verratti is clearly happy with how things are going under the new boss.

“This year, we have a good understanding with the coach and the staff,” he began. “All coaches have a different way of going to the players, to make them understand things. Sometimes with Emery, it was a little complicated.

“Tuchel does not play. We see that he is happy in training. We train with a smile but we are always serious, we know what we do. Work hard but with a smile, this is the best method. We found the smile we had lost a little.

“He says things directly. We like that. When he has to congratulate the team, he does it. When there are things that do not work, too. Sometimes he does it in front of everyone because some situations involve a player but must be understood by the whole team. Sometimes he takes us individually. We have a lot of exchanges.

“For the moment, it’s really a big surprise for everyone on this level, because we needed a coach like that.”

It’s not really a surprise to hear comments like this. For a start, players almost always praise the changes a new manager makes. Just look at all the things members of the Arsenal squad have said about Unai Emery since Arsene Wenger’s departure.

Also, regardless of the success PSG had on the pitch under Emery, there were constant problems with the players surfacing in the media. Neymar, in particular, proved a difficult character in the dressing room. Much of this was blamed on Emery, deservingly or not, so replacing the boss was always going to improve the mood in the camp.

Hopefully, Emery proves as popular with the Arsenal players as Tuchel clearly is with the PSG squad.