Director of Sport Monchi reviews Sevilla's season

Sevilla Director of Sport Monchi was the special guest on Canal Sur Radio's breakfast show on Monday. During the chat he spoke about the current state of affairs at the club and his plans to bolster the squad during the summer as well as the two finals the southern side will play this month - against Liverpool in the Europa League and Barcelona four days later in the Copa del Rey.

Overview of the season: This season is an historic one for Sevilla whatever happens in Madrid and Basel. I don't there have been many times when Sevilla have played two finals in the same season. Out of three competitions, we've reached the final in two.

Granada: I wasn't happy with what happened in the game or what the team has done in general in the league.

Marks out of 10: If we win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League -  an 'B+ to A', if we win both finals, that'd be to go on holiday and never come back... If we don't with either, then we will feel the weight of not being up to scratch in the league, which is probably what stands out about this season.

Income: In other years, the extra income from being in the Champions League made a real difference. I'm not working with a Plan A and a Plan B depending on whether we are in the Champions League or not. The players we have for each position isn't going to change that much for any extra available income or for the brand of the team.

The team's poor form away from home (Sevilla go into the final day of the season as guests of Athletic Club having failed to win at any ground in LaLiga this term): I have no explanation for that. The game at Getafe is the best example. The team was really fired up for that game because we had the chance to catch up with Villarreal but our first half was horrible. On a collective level I've never viewed the team's performances to be slack.

Where would you like to triumph - Basel or Madrid? I'd like to win both, but with one I'd be happy. Leaving to one side the Monchi as Director of Sport... For me, winning the Copa del Rey in Madrid with all the sevillistas who are going to be there... that would be incredible. There's going to be a lot of Sevilla fans with us - whole families... If I had to choose, that would suit me perfectly. The final which I enjoyed most was in Eindhoven and after that, the one we won in  Madrid against Getafe, because all of my family were there. It's etched in my mind as a memory which I associate with Sevillismo. Most people won't be able to go to Basel and I spare a thought for all of those young lads who won't be able to watch the final live.

How the new signings have performed: Some of them haven't met expectations and I am at fault for some of my decision-making. We'll analyze those issues to make sure we don't commit the same mistakes in the future. We are going to try to correct what can be corrected, not repeat the mistakes we have made and organzie the squad in the best way possible for the new campaign.

Emery: He's under contract, I speak with Unai about everything we are doing for the new season. We speak about the future every day. If other clubs coming knocking on his door, that's not an issue which worries me too much. I have faith in what he's said to me and what he has said publicly.

The number of new signings Sevilla will make: We are quite clear about the base of the team we will be building around. After that, the market dictates and sometimes there are situations which you can't anticipate. I'm not expecting the summer transfer window to be very different from other years, we will be taking it slowly, going carefully and focusing on what lies ahead. After that, we'll see. I don't know if it will be a big overhaul or a small one.

Banega: He'll be taking part in the two finals and once there's nothing in play, we'll sit down and chat to him. He's got a year to run on his contract and I am not contemplating anything other than talking it through with him when the season's over.

Injuries: If we analyze the injury problems we've had,  many of them have been out of our control. We've had a few muscular injuries but no more than in previous seasons. The thing is that we have had a lot of games both this season and last. So who's fault is it? I think it's just for the competition and the overload of games. We overran Shakhtar the other night, when they should have been fresher than us.

Jesús Navas: Some people are saying that Guardiola isn't counting on him for next season and others who say he is. They're very hapy with him there, he's got a year left on his contract and he's very hapy where he is. That's all I know.

Goalkeeping position: I think Sergio [Rico] has really come on this season and David [Soria] is also doing well. For me, we are well covered as far as the goalkeeper's position is concerned - for now and in the immediate future. We have two goalkeepers who are only 23 and that guarantees Sevilla will have a keeper for many years. With Sergio we ended last season in 5th and won the Europa League. With Sergio and David, we finished 7th and are in two finals. You need to ask Unai why he his happy with the goalkeeping situation and why it's an issue we have never had to discuss.

Fazio: Being out for a year hasn't helped him and he's struggled to return to form. We took a gamble - one which we thought was the best option at the time.

Sevilla

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