Paul Heckingbottom is plotting Unai Emery’s downfall. Dressed in a navy tracksuit overlooking the sunlit turf at Preston’s training complex, his handshake is warm and his eyes are cold as steel.
‘We don’t ever want to take a backward step against anyone,’ he says, for an opener. ‘If we spend all week working on stopping them, what are we playing for? Nil-nil and penalties? That’s not going to happen.’
It wouldn’t be the worst prediction, in fairness. Preston have had eight goalless draws this season and two penalty shootouts, both wins. Some fans would happily risk another.