Emery: "I want to see 11 gladiators in Vigo tomorrow"

Unai Emery contemplated tomorrow’s meeting with Celta – the second of three meetings between the two clubs in a week but this time, in the league. His Sevilla side all but booked their place in the Copa del Rey final after beating the Galicians 4-0 on Thursday but the Basque coach says tomorrow’s game will be a different story. “The league is the competition which will be the judge of our credibility. Celta beat us earlier on in the campaign and this is a mini-final for us because they are one of our direct rivals. It’s been a real struggle for us to get to fifth position in the table and the challenge we face now is holding onto it”, Emery said in today’s press briefing.

"Celta really improved under Luis Enrique and now under Berizzo, who has brought consistency to their game. Last season we were unable to win up there; they beat Barcelona and gained a significant advantage over us right at the start of the season. They are more than capable of showing their potential and I am expecting my team to come up against the best version of Celta tomorrow. They have won a lot of games without Nolito - I will need 11 gladiators in Vigo".

To end, talk returned to the Copa del Rey; while the 4-0 scoreline from Thursday’s first leg puts the Andalucians in a good position, Emery brushed off all talk of Sevilla having already booked their place in the final: “You should always have respect. We have a Copa del Rey semi-final to play first”, he said.