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MACHÍN: 'WE COME HERE ON A MORAL HIGH, BUT WE RESPECT KRASNODAR"

03/10/2018

The local press brought up Quincy Promes and Real Madrid's recent defeat to CSKA Moscow

Pablo Machín gave an official press conference this Wednesday in the Krasnodar Stadium with Franco Vázquez just before their training session at the stadium. The manager made it clear that they hold their opponent in high regard: 'Both teams are in similar form. Maybe our opponents are in even better form, as they're second in their league and have had a great run of wins without conceding. We come here on a moral high but we respect Krasnodar.' The local press understandably brought up Quincy Promes' name: 'He played in this league, knows the opponents well and many of their players. You can always comment on some aspect that we'll specify tomorrow, but our coaches have done an exhaustive analysis. He is in the squad and he is available to play, whether it be from the start or off the bench. We signed him because he is an excellent player and he scored many goals here. At Sevilla, he is playing further out wide, because the team is doing well and he needs time to adapt. He has not been able to show his goalscoring side yet, but I hope he'll start helping us soon in that regard.'

Machín is certain that the Russian team will make things very difficult: 'We've seen Krasnodar's matches and their playing style is similar to that of many Spanish teams. They focus on combinations playing out from the back, but they have players up front with pace who can catch teams out on the counter. They're a very balanced and modern team as the statistics say, and with a young manager who is trying to bring in new ideas.'

'Krasnodar's playing style is very similar to that of many Spanish teams'

Real Madrid's defeat has made a lot of noise in Russia and in Krasnodar, people are dreaming of emulating that feat: 'The match between CSKA and Real Madrid is proof that every match is difficult to win. Every team in Europe are at a high level and they always make it difficult. Deep down, every coach has to consider whether the squad needs more or fewer rotations. Krasnodar have also been sticking with their first-choice eleven because when things are going well, as coaches we try to prolong the positive momentum. We did that this week and the last training session allowed us to see how everyone is. Our job is to figure out what the best options are to get the win, which is the main objective.'

Finally, he did not deny his team's credentials but made it clear that the important thing is to show it: 'Sevilla's reputation in this competition come from many years of success. That may make it seem like we're the favourites, but we know not to live in the past and that we have to demonstrate that we deserve to win the match out on the pitch and not with history.'