SEVILLA
Sampaoli: "The more players Madrid have out, the merrier"
Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli says he is satisfied with how the pre-season has been going and looked ahead to next week's UEFA Super Cup final against Real Madrid.
Jorge Sampaoli faced reporters at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Friday to analyze how Sevilla's pre-season has been ticking along, and also to look forward to next week's UEFA Super Cup final against Real Madrid.
Pre-season overview "We inherited a squad which had a very defined style of playing and we've startd to build a brand new team. We're advancing well and that is positive news for all of us. As for the Super Cup, we know that we will be taking on the team which won the most important club competition in the world, and who still have the same squad with one or two new additions. We'll be going into the game with great excitement and enthusiasm".
New signings: "Monchi has a great deal of experience on that side of things and I support him, for the great capacity he has in that field. We have the base of the team complete and the preparation for the new season has been cut short for the two finals we have to play. The team's necessities will evolve and change in the day-to-day".
Sevilla's daring style of play: "That could go against us because Real Madrid are very good at making the most of any spaces they are given, but then I've looked at the statistics of the teams who go out and wait for Real Madrid and they lose in the same way. We want to make they feel uncomfortable".
Posibilities in the Spanish and European Super Cup finals: "If we thought that we might lose we wouldn't bother. I know both of the teams that we will be facing very well but I see the excitement among my team. We can put in two great games in both of those finals".
Real Madrid without key players for the Super Cup final: "There's no doubt that the more players they have out, the better. They have dominated some top-level opposition during this pre-season. I don't think that the absentees they have will change they way they play too much".
Tactical vision: "The idea is to simply play good football. As for systems and formations, they are constantly changing in every game. I don't believe in geometric set-ups, we are going to try to be a very flexible side, which attempts to spend as much time as possible in our opponents' half while keeping rival forwards as far away as possible from our penalty area".
The Argentina job: "I'm sure every coach always dreams of one day coaching their national team, but this hasn't come at the ideal time in my case. I have commitments to fulfill with Sevilla - [the Argentina post] fills me with pride at the possibility of being able to step into that role but I have it very clear in my minmd where I am and what I have to do. I have told the AFA to speak to the club; I am not going to enter into discussion with Sevilla about it because I am not in the position to".
Goalkeepers: "Both Sergio Rico and David Soria have been doing well and both of them are getting better at playing with their feet".
Official debut: "It's another step in my career. I've worked at clubs, national teams, in different countries... For me, football means everything. Now I have to convince my players to believe in an idea and that way, we will be a little closer to success".
