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SAMPAOLI: “HAPPY TO FINISH FOURTH WITH 72 POINTS”

20/05/2017
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"What we've done this season is quite positive," said the Argentine
Cuerpo Superior

Jorge Sampaoli gave his thoughts on Sevilla's 5-0 win against Osasuna at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on Saturday night.

Goals from Vitolo (2), Franco Vázquez (2) and Stevan Jovetic secured Sevilla's biggest margin of victory in LaLiga this season, and Sampaoli was happy with how his side closed the campaign.

"After securing fourth position and recording 72 points, I feel happy to have been a part of this project," he said.

Responding to his reception from Sevilla supporters during the game, the Argentine said: "I can't consider that because I didn't notice it, all I can say is that what we've achieved this season is quite positive.

"The most important thing is that I've got really close to the Sevillista feeling, the mindset that the team always had to win every game that we played. That link meant that the player were always focused on winning.

"I think we've done good things, we're fourth in LaLiga, in the Copa del Rey we were knocked out by Real Madrid and we were unlucky against Leicester in the Champions League, but we've had a good number of games that have seen Europe talking about the team. We hoped to be included in the fight for the league and as I said, quite positive."

"I can't pressure someone to give me a contract, I've got obligations in my contract"

Sampaoli continued: "It was a campaign in which we were hopeful at time of challenging for the league, at that time we felt strange because the team had gone on a good run and then we dropped off and the other teams arround us maintained their levels, but I really value where we've finished in the league.

Cuerpo Inferior

Sampaoli then faced a number of questions relating to his future.

"To reiterate, the goodbye today has been generated explicitly between the AFA [Argentina Football Association] and my acceptance, but for this link to be real there must be a true contract.

"If that happens, I'll be the manager of the Argentina national team. I can't pressure someone to give me a contract, I've got obligations and rights in my current contract and that doesn't depend on me.

"For me, it would be easier to cofirm me as the Argentina manager, but I've got a contract that I'm obliged to respect." 

Asked about the Sevilla fan's reaction towards him, Sampaoli said: "I'll only say that if they booed me, I'll only say that you won, those who started that succeeded. Achieving 72 points, everyone talked about Sevilla. We fought in the Champions League and we had a good style of play, normally the fans would be happy. 

"I'm not going for money or as a mercenary, if I go, I go to be the manager of my country which is my dream.