MENDILIBAR: "WE HAVE TO GO TO SAN MAMÉS TOMORROW TO WIN AND NOT THINK ABOUT THE LAST FEW WEEKS"

José Luis Mendilibar appeared before club media in his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against Athletic Club at San Mamés. The Basque coach began by analysing the squad's state of fitness at a stage of the season with a heavy fixture list: "We're trying to ensure that the players who are in the best condition to play in every game are those who are playing. The results are helping us so that, as things change for the better, people continue to believe in what we do. Hopefully we will continue to have enough players to make those changes. These days have been very hot, but that comes with the job. We have to take care of the workload after matches and with these temperatures. We try to make sure they are comfortable so that they can rest and be well on match day."

On the other hand, the Basque coach highlighted the importance of results when it comes to his style permeating in his players: "You can like a concept but if the results don't go with it, that's what makes it fade away. In that sense, they are going along with it. Everyone comes to training with enthusiasm. People are doing well, are happy, that's what's important. The time will come when we have to lose a game, but for now that's not the case."

On Athletic Club, Mendilibar praised the current form of Sevilla FCs next opponent: "They are in good form and they know what their identity. They play a fast-paced game. I hope we start the game with organisation and concentration. Right now we are both sides that play a similar way, wanting to play in the opposition's half with a high defensive line. It is going to be a different game because they try to dominate their opponent."

Moving his attention towards the position of the team in the table, he emphasised the importance of every game since his arrival: "We have done well since the first day I arrived. The match against Cádiz was important because it was against a direct rival and if they had beaten us, they would have climbed above us in the table. The next one was important too because by getting three points we moved away more than three points away from the relegation zone. There will come a time if we keep winning, when we will no longer need to look back in the standings. We can't relax yet though. We have to go to San Mamés tomorrow wanting to win and not thinking about what we have achieved recently."

Finally, Mendilibar updated us on the players that will miss out on the match tomorrow: "We have three players out injured: Marcao, Joan and Tanguy."