Pablo Machín, Sevilla FC’s manager, gave an extended press conference by to analyse this Saturday’s match against second-placed FC Barcelona at the Nou Camp. A match that he described as ‘beautiful because of how the two teams have been playing in the league. The league leaders will be decided there and I hope that they will be the same as now.’ ‘The motivation for a professional has to be at its highest for every match, because all teams are very evenly matched, if we’re not one hundred per cent motivated, we’re giving the advantage to the opponents. We’re going up against the best team and best player in the world and if we have any chinks in our armour they know how to take advantage of them. The coach in these types of matches has a very easy job to motivate the players.’
‘We’re going for the win, I want to compete and play the best game we can’
Asked about the system he will use against Valverde's team, Machín made his intentions to compete very clear: ‘With five forwards we’ll be able to créate more chances and I hope we can convert them. Many teams go to that great stadium wearing their hearts on their sleeves and usually lose, others go there to defend and no create any chances and lose…We’ll try to have a good day and carry out the game plan as best as we can and we’re also aware that we need Barça not to have their best day and their players not to be clinical. If that´s the case we´ll have a better chance to win. They usually win at home but, we’re not going there just to spend the evening there. We’re going with the belief that we have a good chance of getting something positive. We’re going for the win because if we don’t think like that we’ll end up going out with our heads bowed. I want us to compete and play the best game we can.’