First team

MONCHI: 'WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET AT LEAST 7 MORE POINTS TO GET FOURTH'

29/04/2019

The sporting director spoke about the defeat against Girona, Banega's sending off and plans for next season

Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, Monchi, went on Radio Sevilla to speak about Sevilla FC.

The consequences of yesterday's defeat

These things happen. On Friday we have another game and opportunity but we do have to analyse what happened against Girona and get the sufficient rest and recovery. I've some new characteristics from my time in Rome but there are some things I haven't been able to change. It's always a difficult day for me when Sevilla don't win, especially when we saw Valencia's result. It's more painful to have passed up an opportunity like that and we have to face up to that. We have to analyse the match but we have to also keep looking forward.

A possible internal sanction for Banega

It's a possibility that we are assessing. I have a magnificent relationship with Éver but I have to let him know that Sevilla demands better. Éver is disappointed in himself and I know the fans are not happy. We have to put ourselves in our fans' shoes, the people who trust and believe in us and show them that the players here are commited to constructing a positive image of Sevilla.

Performances against teams low down in the table

Of the six matches we've played against teams in the bottom four spots we have not picked up a single point and only have one goal, a penalty against Huesca. We cannot ignore that. This is something the manager will have to look at. We haven't been able to demonstrate our superiority in the way we should.

His return, largely in part due to the president

Pepe Castro was the one who said 'Monchi, we want you to come because the club must grow even more.' I believe the same but he sold his vision to me. He demonstrated just how ambitious the club wants to be and that's why I came back.

The squad for 2019/20

I want a physical squad full of quality. I think we lack a bit of physical strength in the squad. Like every squad, it can be improved but we cannot undervalue the work of a team fighting for fourth place.

Fourth spot

I think we're going to need at least seven more points for fourth because unfortunately we lose on head-to-head against Getafe and Valencia. We will have to win our two games at home and at least draw against Atlético. It's not impossible, the team are well capable of doing it. It's not in our hands as things stand but it is still possible.

The decision on the manager

I've already explained it. I would love to link my work with Joaquín for the coming years. The table has nothing to do with it and we will make the decision based on objective and subjective data. There are other things we are considering which I can't mention here.

'The decision on whether or not Caparrós will continue has nothing to do with the league table'

An offer to Mercado

As he said, the club has made him an offer that he is assessing with his agent. If we have made him an offer it's because he has a place in this squad. Mercado is an important player for Sevilla and he would be an important player in many clubs. The first step, which is to show we want him to stay, has been taken.