ADRIÀ PEDROSA: "ON THE EPIPHANY I FOUND OUT THAT SEVILLA WANTED ME AND I SCREAMED WITH DELIGHT"

Adrià Pedrosa sat down with Sevilla FC Official Media for his first interview after signing a five-year deal with the club last week.

To get started, the left-back spoke of his happiness after completing the signing: "I'm so happy to be honest, I'm getting used to the heat. I'm very happy, and I can't wait. I can see the support and affection from the fans on social media. I couldn't be happier right now."

For Adrià, it's a key move for him to continue growing: "It was a difficult decision that I had to make if I wanted to keep growing as a player. It's an important step in my career, not just because it's a big club, but because they're in the Champions League, a very important competition. From a young age, everyone wants to get there. I'm really looking forward to taking on this challenge."

After a difficult season at RCD Espanyol, the Catalan player is keen to get underway at Sevilla: "To be honest, my last year at Espanyol was a difficult one. What I'm looking forward to is to getting out on the pitch, running and giving everything I've got. Over the last year I haven't been able to do that."

Pedrosa then spoke fondly about the moment he found out about Sevilla's interest in him: "It was 6th January, the Epiphany, when my agent called me. I thought it would be a normal call and in the end it was that Sevilla were very interested in me. I tried to pretend that nothing was happening and when I hung up I screamed with delight because I finally got that good fortune. When a club as big as Sevilla want you, you know that it's a very big step."

"I'm very keen so I'll adapt quickly"

Adrià couldn't hide his excitement about playing in the UEFA Champions League: "I've played in the Europa League before, but at this club, in a tournament like the Champions League, it'll be quite different. I've never played in it and I have to adapt. I'm very keen so I'll adapt quickly. I'll give everything for this badge."

The left-back has kept a close eye on the club over the last few seasons: "I've really kept up-to-date with the club. I don't know if it's because of what the fans are like or how they're perceived. The fact that Sevilla called me and wanted me, after a difficult year, really excites me. Before that, I don't know why but I noticed that they had something special. When I played here with Espanyol I could feel it in the stadium, how the fans gave their all... I noticed that there was something special here. It's a different environment."

On a personal level, Pedrosa stressed the importance of getting minutes under his belt: "Every player's objective is playing as much as possible. There are top-class players here that will make that difficult, but my main aim is playing as much as possible. Above all though, achieving great things as a team is the most important."

Talking of teammates, he commented on Marcos Acuña, his new, fellow left-back: "I don't know him personally, but when I've played against him he's a very tough opponent. It was very difficult for me. Having his as a teammate now will make me learn a lot from him. He will be another teammate to fight with for a place in the team, with hard work, humility and respect. I'm going to learn a lot."

"The focus of Mendilibar's change was the atmosphere in the dressing room"

Another aspect that Adrià highlighted was the squad's change in mentality after Mendilibar took the reins: "I think Rakitic said it in a press conference. The focus of Mendilibar's change was the atmosphere in the dressing room. Now they were having more fun playing. With the situation we had at RCDE Espanyol, I know what it's like to be at the bottom. I know it's not easy mentally. It's essential that someone comes in and makes a change with the new enthusiasm."

"It's tough in these situations because mentally your work is not reflected on the pitch. Unfortunately I've gone through that difficult situation twice. I've had two relegations with Espanyol and to be honest the first one was harder. It made me grow as a player and a person. This year I lived through it with more experience."

Pedrosa believes playing in a Mendilibar team suits him: "I think I fit in well, what Mendilibar is looking for with players that he's had like Edu Expósito means that he knows that he wants depth down the flank and to put in crosses. We've got finishers like En-Nesyri who jump higher than the ceiling. You have to go out and give your teammates opportunities to score goals. I think I can fit in well for that."

He also recalled the challenge of defending against current players such as Jesús Navas, Lucas Ocampos and Suso: "Being honest, the toughest match I've faced was at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, with Navas and Ocampos on the wing. They really went at me, particularly Ocampos with the aggressiveness that he has when he attacks. When I was tired, they brought on Suso in the second half, who is a very different player. There are top-level players up front who are hard to tie down."

"I'm looking forward to singing the anthem when I step out onto the pitch"

Another aspect that stood out to the Catalan player is the club's anthem and fans: "When I walked onto the pitch, the anthem was something different. This year, when we came from behind to take the lead, there was a moment when the Sevilla fans picked the team up. From the outside you could tell they were driving them on. In the end they went on come from behind and win. I'm looking forward to singing the anthem when I step out onto the pitch."

Pedrosa then commented on his youth career: "When I was in the U12s at Castelldefels, I tried out for Espanyol and they said that the team was full, but that they liked me. They told me to join a team in a higher division to compete against them. I went to Gabá for five years and then Espanyol signed me. I always played as a winger, but I dropped further back as I grew. I played more inside at first, and then became a full-back."

Later, he recalled his arrival at Espanyol as a nervous moment: "When I played for Gabá, we played against big academy teams and the aim was to not concede too many. I didn't know if I had the level to be there. I was very nervous in training sessions and matches. I adapted and then reached the Spain U17 team. In my second year at Espanyol U19s I had a long-term injury. In three years I won the league twice. In the fourth year, the year I made my first-team debut, we won the league again. Three in four years. I was winning everything and couldn't ask for more."

That debut in the Copa del Rey was a special moment for Adrià: "It was a spectacular debut. The confidence that the manager showed in me was key straight from the off. I had a youth contract, but reached the first team because a team mate left. They had faith in me at the club and making my debut against Cádiz made me feel like that I could be there and go far."

"I've worked my heart out to recover as best I can"

In the latter parts of the interview, Pedrosa spoke about his difficult journey to recovery after his most recent injury: "The injury was practically in the last five games. We had a lot of fatigue. In the end I played every game in pain and I had to take the decision to stop, I couldn't compete. I wasn't giving 100% and my teammates were. Now, pre-season is to play matches and be ready. That injury will be the most difficult point of my career. Little by little, with the work I've been doing, I've worked my heart out to recover as best I can."

To finish, he explained why he always wore the number 13: "I was born on 13th May and everyone says it's an unlucky number. Things haven't gone badly for me with that number and I've always worn it. If I can have it again, I'd like to."