GARCÍA PIMIENTA: "WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT ALMERÍA WAS A BLIP"

Xavi García Pimienta spoke ahead of our first league match of 2025 tomorrow against Valencia. He began by saying the bitter taste of elimination from the Copa del Rey needs to be got rid of: “After the match in Almeria, I'm looking forward to playing again tomorrow against Valencia. It's a different Valencia side. When there is a change of coach, new things always happen. There's a different energy for the players. We have seen the two matches with Corberán and they have done very well. We will have to be at our best and show that what happened in Almeria was a blip, especially in the second half because the first half was quite good. We are looking forward to playing tomorrow at our stadium. We all have to get our act together so that what happened in the cup doesn't happen again." 

Ejuke and Iheanacho are unavailable but having been officially announced this morning Rubén Vargas is in contention: “Ejuke will not be involved, he has been doing partial training with the team for two days and he is doing very well, we even joked that he looked like he wanted to be involved, but he is in the process of readapting. Vargas will be in the squad tomorrow, we even know he is in good shape because he has been competing and training at the highest level. Even if we needed him, he would be there to play a few minutes tomorrow." Moreover, he does not fear a bad reaction from the stands: “The fans have to show what they feel. We are here to give it to them, not the other way around. I am convinced that, if the team gives its all, the fans will be there for us. We have to show that we made a mistake the other day and that it can't happen again. From the first minute, we want the fans to get behind us because the team is giving everything." 

"I am convinced that if the team give everything the fans will be there for us" 

Returning to Vargas, he said that “he is a player who wants to improve in his career, he is coming to a great club like Sevilla and his aim is to help us return to the top as soon as possible. That ambition he has as an international who wants to improve and take a step forward. He comes with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. He is a player profile that we wanted and we thank the sporting director and the president for bringing him in as soon as possible after the departure of Ocampos in September and that of Jesús in January. I think he will adapt very well to our way of playing and will give us positive things for sure." 

He also spoke of the interest in Badé and Juanlu: “That shows you the potential that Sevilla and our players have. Badé is a starter, a French international; Juanlu has been at the highest level for some time now. For everything that can happen, we have to be prepared. If they end up leaving, which I hope they don't, we have to replace them. I know that the sporting director will be able to find replacements if needed. What I am very clear about is that if there is a player with an offer that cannot be refused or who has to leave due to a lack of minutes, he will be replaced. But these are assumptions and I would like them to stay," 

On the other hand, he acknowledged that he never took Juninho's arrival for granted: “Experience, after many years, tells me that you can never be sure of what is going to happen. Until he is here and signs the contract, I never take anything for granted. Yesterday the club informed me that Vargas is traveling and will be here. That's when I say that if nothing happens in the medical, he will join the club. From then on, if one player leaves, another has to come in and we need to have the best players. If Iheanacho leaves, someone else will have to come in for that position.

"I think Vargas will adapt very well to our playing style" 

He did not want to give away the lineup for tomorrow: “They are two goalkeepers who can play and who have been doing very well. The other day, analysing the goals, I think the one who is less to blame is Nyland. There have been situations in which our goalkeepers have been able to do little. It's an issue for everyone, not just the goalkeepers. They are both working well and whoever plays will be at his best tomorrow." Regarding Barco's situation, he also ruled out his participation tomorrow: “Today he felt some discomfort in his hip at the end of training and tomorrow he will not play. It's nothing serious, but he will have to undergo tests this afternoon." 

Finally, he commented on the meeting in the dressing room after last Saturday's elimination from the Copa del Rey: “I don't like to talk after the games, but what happened in the second half was unacceptable. The president and Víctor are always on top of things, but the conversation was mine with the players. It was an adult conversation after a situation that cannot be repeated. They were present, but the ones who spoke at the meeting were the players and me.”