First team

MONTELLA BELIEVES IN "A PROACTIVE MODEL OF FOOTBALL"

30/12/2017
"One of my objectives is to speak to N'Zonzi and understand him"
Vincenzo Montella has been presented as the new coach of Sevilla FC. The Italian seemed very happy with being able to work in La Liga and with a team like Sevilla: "I'm grateful to the Chairman and to Sevilla for the incredible opportunity of working here. I want to know the spirit of this city and club. My objective is to win more as a manager and this is the club to express my ideas. It's a huge opportunity for me, it was an aim I had and I have achieved. When I played here with Fiorentina I loved the stadium and the club. The spirit is beautiful for everyone who plays here".
 
He was questioned about why the team has not had the performance it expected up until now: "I haven't had the chance to watch the last few matches but it's the first thing I'm going to do because I want to look at what happened in these last weeks. I believe Sevilla needs to play with heart, with passion in its football. That's going to be my first aim". 
"N'Zonzi is a very good player, one of my objectives is to speak to him and understand his ambitions"
And as it was bound to, one name popped up in the press conference - what was the future of N'Zonzi? "He's a very good player, and one of my objectives is to speak with him and understand his ambitions, his ideas. For me he's an important player for Sevilla".
 
And with changes to the team, a chance to also make movements in the winter transfer market to bolster the team. The coach wants time so as not to rush into decisions: "I still haven't spoken about it, I've given my ideas on how the team we already have can work. Obviously we're going to work with Óscar. If necessary we'll intervene but we're a family and we'll make important decisions as a family". 

Montella also wanted to explain his ideas about football - a model that the Sánchez-Pizjuán is undoubtedly going to appreciate: "My model of football is built on a active football, through team spirit, through passion that needs to start with every one of the players, a proactive model... I believe that if we try to play football it's easier to win".

"Derbies are different games. We'll have to prepare for it with heart but also keeping our heads clear and with lucidity"

The calendar is certainly demanding. After Wednesday's Copa del Rey game comes the Seville Derby. Montella was clear: "When they talk to me about the derby, they say here it's a joke. This isn't like any other match. I've experienced many derbies, in Roma, in Genova... I've played in many derbies as a footballer, also in derbies in Milan... I know that they're different matches, this will be a match we have to prepare for with heart, with passion but above all else with clear heads and lucidity. I would have liked more days, it would have been better but that's football and that's that". 

On familiar names, linking up with Maresca as an assistant and Muriel and Correa - who played under Montella for brief stints in Italy - he said: "Enzo has a history in this club, he has everyone's respect in Italy... He's helping me a lot too because I still haven't learnt Spanish and he's a very important person for me. I've established a line of communication with the club and Enzo's support is important for effective communication. Muriel and Correa are two players I know, footballers with a lot of talent, but then we have a lot of players with talent in this team... They're two players who can explode because they have immense potential".