Lopetegui: "I've been at Sevilla for more than three years now, I know a little about what there is"

   MADRID, 30 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Sevilla's coach, Julen Lopetegui, acknowledged this Friday that he is not afraid of being fired if he loses against Atlético de Madrid this Saturday, because the only thing he fears is "not getting the three points in each game", making it clear that he has " working" in the Seville club "for more than three years now" and that he knows "a little about what there is".

"The only thing I fear is not getting the three points in each game and I try to work as much as I can beforehand to have the team as well prepared as possible, it is what we are focused on, what is under our control. I have been working here more than three years now, so I know a little about what there is," he declared at the press conference prior to receiving the mattress makers.

Lopetegui said that "in the moments when you really don't get the results, the only way is to believe in what you are doing and insist a lot, be determined in what you do, be constant, and focus on what is under your control" .

He also gave his opinion about his Atletico counterpart, Diego Pablo Simeone, who after a hesitant start could also be questioned if he falls at Sánchez-Pizjuán. "It is a situation that is merely intrinsic to football. His career speaks for him and for his performance. From then on, football has been, is and will always be", he commented.

The Basque coach sees his rival as "a team with a squad designed to win the Champions League, extraordinary" and that has "a coach beyond any doubt due to his importance and the performance he has had with his group."

Lopetegui highlighted Atlético's ability to "assume different roles, different drawings, sometimes with a line of three or four, with the presence of players with a lot of hierarchy and a lot of quality." "I expect a very physical team, very technical, with speed and with different tactical alternatives," he added.

The Sevilla coach does not look beyond the weekend despite the overloaded calendar from now on. "There is a game coming up, which is Atlético de Madrid. Day by day, game by game and focused exclusively on the next one because they are a rival with enough substance and level to not think about anything else", he commented.

"From then on, the most important thing is what we have to do, the response we have to give, beat a good rival and play a great game at all levels, defensive and offensive. There are many players who have not been with us , others who have been able to work during this break, and there are still others who, in order to be at the optimal level, have to play a lot of competitive minutes, and that doesn't happen no matter how much you train", explained Julen Lopetegui on his own.

The international break has "been very good" for some players from the Seville team "such as the case of Kasper (Dolberg), who had played less and had the opportunity to play with his starting team for 55 minutes", although the coach acknowledges that for "others who surely have an important load of games" a situation arises that "surely is not as interesting as a coach".

Lopetegui sent a message to the players who have had less participation so far, hoping that "hopefully" they would have "more resources to be able to give a better response" to the matches they will now face. "Players like Januzaj, Suso, Dolberg, Marcao, who is still injured, or Tanguy (Nianzou) himself, have to push, because the competition doesn't wait and we all need them", he assured.

"Fortunately, having qualified for three consecutive seasons in the Champions League, Sevilla is used to it and has the blessed obligation to play every three days, and that is not given for free, it is earned and now we have to face it with the resources we have," he said.

Despite the bad start, Lopetegui believes that "the team is working well" and that he is trying to "consolidate a way of competing within the difficulties of the objective". "I have no doubt that when we're at cruising speed, with all the players individually bringing their best, it's going to be the best team that we want it to be," he added.

The coach believes that Sevilla is undergoing a "permanent football test" and that, although things are not going well, they always want to play in front of their fans. "I prefer to always have our team with me. They will support us, they will always give us that extra encouragement that we need when the team is in difficulty and tomorrow will not be an exception," he explained.

To break the losing streak, after winning only one game out of the first eight, he acknowledges that "winning is always important and it is always easier to continue growing from victory", although "sometimes also from the most complex moments, a team has a starting point to be able to grow and be stronger in character". "Other years have happened to us," she said.

Regarding individual players, Lopetegui commented that Marcos Acuña "carries some discomfort" from which he has not recovered with his national team and that he will be in doubt until the last minute. In addition, he stressed that "Marcao is still injured" and hoped that "hopefully he will be as soon as possible."

He also responded to the words of the Moroccan coach about the lack of support for En-Nesyri. "I imagine that it meant to give love to a player, I interpret it that way, and we obviously do that, with Youssef and with everyone, within the demand, trying to accompany each footballer in personal growth," he settled.

Lopetegui also responded to the controversy generated by the statements made by 'Papu' Gómez in which he said that he was thinking about the World Cup. His coach assures that he "is going to show, not with words, but with deeds on the field" that his commitment "is one hundred percent with Sevilla."

"The interpretations are sometimes interested. His statement is because of the illusion that a World Cup can generate, and it is normal, but there is a lot of time left. Before here, Sevilla is playing a lot of things and we need the commitment of him and the rest of the players who they are going to go to the World Cup. Surely they are going to show it not with words, but with deeds", he concluded.