GUDELJ: "THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE FEELING THAT I REALLY AM AT HOME"

After signing a contract extension until 2026, Nemanja Gudelj was keen to express his delight.

He began by stating "I want to thank again both my family and the President, Vice President and the whole club, the fans, everybody, for giving me the feeling that I really am at home. I've been at a few clubs and I have to say I've never had the feeling that I have here. It's tough to explain, but I'm very proud to be able to renew my contract and stay at such a big club."

"I want to continue playing as many games as I can with such great and grateful fans. I think that the time I have spent here is a time that I will always remember, where many important things have happened, some nicer than others, but they are all part of life and they make you strong. As the fans do here, they give you the backing to keep going. I am very happy to be able to continue alongside all of you."

In response to questions from the media, Gudelj said that he "had noted so much affection during these four years. This is my home and for me it's difficult to explain being here, but lately I have seen all the messages and there are so many that I can't answer them all. I want to thank everyone. I don't know if there is a secret. I'm like this in life too, since I was young, thanks to my parents and my family, I never surrender. That's not just in football. My father was a pro for many years and he's helped both my brother and me."

"There are so many messages that I can't answer them all"

As for the 2021/22 season, when the Serbian international was not included in the UCL squad, he confirmed that he accpeted the decision "with my head held high. At the end of the day, I'm not 18, I know what football is and there's good and bad times. That's the beauty of it. But when there comes a time when things don't work out, you have to keep going strong, with discipline and giving everything, to be able to look yourself in the mirror and say that you've given everything. A thousand things can happen in football and today could go badly, but everything can change the following day and you have to believe in yourself."

The versatile player also made it clear he will play wherever is necessary: "I've always said I'll play wherever the manager tells me do. I feel comfortable as a centre half and a holding midfielder, I'll be wherever he needs me to be."

As for next season, he emphasised that "no one wants a repeat of the start of last season because Sevilla cannot be towards the bottom of the table. We have to forget about what was good and bad, what's important is what lies ahead. It's time to train hard and look ahead."

Nemanja then spoke about how his contract renewal came about: "I spoke with the President, Vice President and Monchi. It was all quite easy and quick. But there were more important things than confirming my contract so there was no hurry, because we all wanted me to stay at the club. We had to sort out the details and we did it at the end of the season.

To finish, he spoke about the UEFA Europa League success after such a difficult season: "I'm not a person who cries easily, but when Montiel scored everything that happened during the season came back to me, the feelings, the anger... It was a very emotional year for me for personal reasons and I don't tend to show my emotions, but when you see that you've won it, everything comes out."