PEDROSA: "THE COACH IS HELPING US SET STRONG FOUNDATIONS"

Adrià Pedrosa looked ahead to the return of LALIGA EA SPORTS this weekend and began by discussing the current mood in the first-team squad He explained that ‘mentally the group is much better because the last few results have been quite positive. It's great that that while some o us are away on international duty, the rest of us have continued working and feel confident about the upcoming matches.’ As for the team's mentality after the huge derby win last time out, he revealed that ‘we had in our minds to win, partly for Jesús [Navas] in his last derby given what he has given for the club, therefore we had to return the favour on that night. However, we also felt a boost given how our work has been reflected a little more on the pitch in recent games. The coach's ideas are beginning to translate onto the pitch.’

As for next Sunday's game at Montjuic, he pointed out that he has 'played a lot of Catalan derbies, but they're a different type of game. At Espanyol, it was more sentimental. Since I moved here, we've played two head-to-head games against Barcelona and we have to remember that we're Sevilla and we're more than capable to taking points from them," he said. 

"We are Sevilla, and we are capable of winning at Montjuic"

On his position on the pitch, he highlighted that ‘I've played much more as a full-back than as a winger. I feel better at full-back, but in this system my position is different and I try to adapt by listening above all to the coaching staff, who are the ones who know’. He also spoke of individuals such as Lamine Yamal, but without focusing on one player: ‘At his age, I haven't seen a player as decisive as Yamal. You have to be focused, but without going over the top. You have to be focused and look at his strengths and weaknesses, but also remember that he is just one of several players on the pitch.’ He also praised the figure of García Pimienta as one of the main assets of the club's project: ‘It's true that we've had quite a few changes of coach here and each one asks you for something, but knowing that the club want to create a successful project gives you the confidence to lay the foundations of something strong and has given us even more confidence to know that this is going to last.'

Pedrosa also spoke of objectives for the season, and given the club's history of success in European competition, finishing in the qualifiying positions is of course on the mind: ‘Personally, when I signed for Sevilla I was clear that the aim was going to be to play in Europe. Things panned out a bit differently last season, but that expectation remains for this year.’ Pedrosa explained how this international break has reminded him of the level of quality within the squad: ‘In the end, having so many international players is a source of pride. Yesterday we saw Carmona and Peque's game for a while and those games give you a lot of confidence and I hope they can transfer that energy once they're all back with us here.'

Grateful for Valentín Barco's competition, he also mentioned the improvement at the back: ‘The progress has been coming week by week. We've worked more on the defensive side and I think it's been noticeable. If you keep a clean sheet, with the quality you have, we're going to make chances and that's working. As for my position, I've never played there before but I'm adapting to the coach's idea of the game - I can see it what he's trying to do, so I understand the game. I think I can also do damage like the goal at Getafe.'

Pedrosa finished by underlining the role that the fans play at all times: ‘The fans have every right to react however they want to different situations, but above all else, they've always been there to support us when we play. It makes us feel like we have a 12th man on the pitch.'