GARCÍA PIMIENTA: "WE MUST DEMAND A LOT FROM OURSELVES TO LIVE UP TO THE TEAM WE ARE"

Xavi García Pimienta shared his thoughts with the media just before flying to Girona for tomorrow’s match at Montilivi: "Things are looking good, especially with the great news that Ejuke has completed the week of training and will be included in the squad. We’ll be able to use him for a few minutes tomorrow, and we practically have everyone available except for Iheanacho, who did complete today’s training session but isn’t ready yet, Barco, and Nianzou. It’s a very tough stadium, and Girona is a highly challenging opponent. They’re playing in the Champions League and have an automated style of play under a coach who’s doing an excellent job. They’re one of the teams that plays the best football and is also getting results. It’s an extremely demanding game because, even the other day without their best performance, they believed until the end against Alavés and secured the three points.We have to push ourselves to the limit to live up to the club and the team we represent and to come away with the three points."

When asked about Kike Salas' situation, he stated: "He’s had a very good week, he’s calm, and he’s training well. He’s available for the team. The other day, the head of security came, told us that Kike had to leave, and then we found out about the news. I’ve spoken with him, he’s calm, and he has shown me that he’s ready and available. That’s all there is to it."

The coach is clear that effectiveness must improve: "Our last home game against Valencia wasn’t our best performance. We showed more enthusiasm than quality in our play, and it was a real struggle. Looking at the stats, we took more shots than they did. They had one shot on target, and it was a goal. Even when we’re not at our best, we’re often capable of outplaying our opponents, but we made a very serious mistake on their goal. That lack of effectiveness is costing us a lot. Without good play and without being effective, it’s very hard to win, and we have to demand more of ourselves. We need to concede very little, and when we have opportunities, like the ten corners we had the other day, we need to be more effective and cause damage. When you face an opponent with such a well-established style of play and a clear understanding of how they want to play, you have to be even more consistent, more focused, and maintain the ambition to win."

"Against an opponent with such a well-established style, we need to be even more consistent."

Regarding the transfer market, he commented, "everything will depend on the possibilities created by departures. I know the sporting management is doing a good job of strengthening the team and raising the overall level of the squad. I’m convinced that if players leave, reinforcements will arrive. Barco, for example, asked not to play against Almería, likely because he sees his departure getting closer. He has some discomfort in his hamstring and hasn’t trained all week. If nothing unusual happens, he’ll start training again next week, but I hope the situation is resolved soon because he wants to leave. Players come and go, and we have to be ready for it all. Tanguy is improving. He hasn’t trained with the group yet, but he’s progressing on schedule. He should rejoin the team either next week or the following one at the latest." He also addressed the rumors about Badé: "He’s a very important player, and you all know that. I’m not surprised there’s a possibility of him moving to a big club, but he’s calm and working well. The other day, he had a good match. He’s a great professional, and we’ll be ready for whatever happens."

"I'm happy to almost have the entire squad back"

Waiting for reinforcements, he celebrates the increase in squad members: "I'm happy to have almost the entire squad back. Ejuke has only completed this week fully; last week he did partial sessions, but he feels good and all the tests have been positive. We need to take it progressively; we won’t be able to see him at the same level as when he got injured just yet. From there, Vargas will also bring us a lot because he’s match-fit. Lukebakio, Idumbo... There are key players in one-on-one situations who will give us more options, starting in one way and maintaining the rhythm in the second half. The competitiveness between them will allow us to demand more from ourselves."

Only one away victory has been achieved in LALIGA, a record that needs improvement: "We’re getting many more points at home, but there have been games where we’ve competed better away. We need to be just as demanding at home as we are away. A team that wants to achieve things has to earn points both at home and away. Tomorrow we face a very tough challenge and we must compete at 100%. By doing that, we’ll be close to securing the victory."

On the other hand, he mentioned that Suso is just another player for him: "When I’ve thought it was appropriate, he’s played. Now he’s participating less, but for me, he’s just another player, and if I think he needs to play, there will be no problem. A player of Suso’s profile, who is well-established, surely wants to play more, like everyone else. This week he’s had a virus and it’s been a bit harder for him, but if I decide he should play, he’s ready. To conclude, he trusts in the current squad to return Sevilla to where it belongs: "We’re at a great club. It’s true that we’re not going through our best moment, but the intention is to be the Sevilla of the last 20 years. It won’t happen overnight, and we have a lot of work ahead of us, but that’s why we’re here. We’ll fight with all our strength to bring Sevilla back to where it deserves to be."