First team

CASTRO: 'WE'RE ONLY FOCUSING ON KICKING OFF A GOOD RUN'

13/03/2019

The president was confident regarding the team's chances of advancing: 'The team is very excited and we feel that the bad run is over'

José Castro attended the media on arrival in Prague airport, going over the team's chances of advancing tomorrow: 'The reality is that we didn't get a good result in the first leg but we ought to remember that we won away against a top team in Lazio and we played very well.' He then went on to speak about the game against Real Sociedad: 'Sunday was one of those games that you had to win and we did so with the coach, players and fans all together. And chances that lately hadn't been going in for us thankfully went in.'

Asked about the manager, the president left no doubts: 'He's motivated and wants to create history. Let's remember a year ago we won in Manchester. The team is very excited and we feel that the bad run is over. We're only focusing on kicking off a good run. We had a very good first half to the season with these players and we have to keep our motivation high.' Castro reiterated that he hopes the bad run is now history: 'Many things can happen in football and it was a bad run more in terms of results than in terms of how we played, although there were bad matches such as the one in Vigo. For example in Huesca, if we play that game ten times we win nine times, it wasn't to be that day.'

Ben Yedder is in excellent form but there is no rush with him: 'We always work for the squad at Sevilla and Ben Yedder is no exception but he still has two seasons.' There is no news regarding Sarabia: 'Right now the most important thing is the team and we have to leave individual questions to one side. Sevilla is the most important, we need to win tomorrow and be in the draw on Friday.'

'We had a very good first half to the season with these players and we have to keep our motivation high'

As is logical, the ambition is to win our sixth Europa League and the first step must be taken tomorrow: 'We have to continue in the competition - we are the team who has won it the most times. The team comes to life in this trophy and we hope we can play a great game and be clinical.' Castro is not even contemplating elimination: 'No one can think that. I don't doubt that we will play a great game and go through. We were the better side at home, just we didn't take our chances and we were unlucky with their two goals.'