MONTELLA: "WE NEED STEP UP THE PERFORMANCES AND ATTITUDES OF THE PLAYERS"

Sevilla FC coach, Vincenzo Montella spoke to the media this Saturday ahead of the team's journey to the Spanish capital where the Nervionenses will face Leganés. It's a match that will see a necessary change in mentality from the team's victory in the last-16 of the Champions League, even if it's for a known rival: "It's difficult but it's a moment in which we should step up and tomorrow the attitude of the team will be very important. We need to approach the match in the best possible way". 

"From today I want to be a better coach and the players want to be better as well"

Especially given that, for Montella, the next opponents "are a tricky team who play with a lot of enthusiasm and speed and are very dangerous because they are very compact. It will be a tough game but it's time to raise individual and group performances". On a personal level, he clarified: "from today I want to be a better coach and the players want to show their best". 

The boss wasn't sure if there would be rotations: "Today's training will be important, I will save the doubts I have for the very last moment tomorrow morning. I'm always attentive to the development of the players and the team. If a player convinces me I can change and I have done that in the past. Though today's training is important, I will see how they are and make a decision. I have a lot of doubts and I think I will still have them tomorrow". 

"The selection of Ben Yedder shows that quality is more important than quantity"

Asked about Ben Yedder's inclusion in the France squad, Montella declared himself: "very happy. It's the first time he's been selected and I told him I was really happy for him. It shows quality is more important than quantity. He's an important player who I trust a lot - which he knows".

On the other side, he spoke about players like Sarabia and Escudero who were overlooked for the Spain squad, "I understand it's a disappointment for them, because it's a huge objective to play with the international team but selfishly I'm happy because they're going to have a rest in those weeks, they've piled up a lot of games". 

He was also asked about Mourinho's visit to the Sevilla changing room following victory in Old Trafford: "It's true he came to the changing room to congratulate the players. Mou has shown throughout his career he's a great winner and he also showed he is a great person in such a difficult moment".