The Club

CRUZ: ' I THINK THERE'LL BE EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION WITHIN THE SQUAD BUT THE MARKET WILL DECIDE'

27/05/2019

The CEO spoke about the club's plans for the future, Monchi and the future coach

Sevilla FC's CEO, José María Cruz, analysed the season, Monchi's return and the work to be done in the summer.

The new manager:

'We will choose the manager when our internal analysis ends up with a name. After receiving the green light from the Executive Committee and the Board, negotiations can begin. I understand that having the post open creates expectations amongst the fans. Both of the Sevillian clubs need a manager and it's the same names as last year. It's a small group because they need to have experience in La Liga, speak the language and have delivered results throughout the career. There are very few.'

Negotiations with Monchi:

'The president called him. Castro said that he had read that Monchi was going to end his contract with Roma, he asked us what we thought and I told him that I felt he would sign with another club and would already have many offers. Castro convinced me to explore the possibility, he spoke with Monchi and gave him the chance to come home. After then, he told me to ring Monchi and to get to work.

The 'Sevilla Model':

I wouldn't say the Sevilla Model is buying cheap and selling high. It's understanding a club's culture which, to keep growing, shouldn't be afraid of moving a player on when the offer is appropriate. We cannot be emotional in this side of the game and can't be bound emotionally to keep a player at the club if the offer is favourable to all parties.'

'We should not be afraid of moving a player on when the offer is appropriate'

The rise in the 'average footballing level':

'The average level of La Liga has gone up massively, in all of the big European leagues in fact. With the economic equality amongst teams, other than the top ones, you can now put together some very competitive squads. It seems that physical football may come back to dominate over the possession game we have seen recently. With the more equal level, the teams that impose themselves the most are those with a defined playstyle.'

The coming transfer window:

'I think that keeping stability within the squad and not making too many changes is important. You can't make changes on a whim and all the internal and external pressure in football means there is very little patience. We don't have to revolutionise the squad. We have always said we would make changes we deem fit to create a competitive and ambitious squad. I think there will be evolution, not revolution but the market will decide. If there are players for whom we do not receive good enough offers, they will remain with us and we will work to improve their performance. We will make opportune changes to improve what is a good squad - one more win would have had us in fourth spot.'

Monchi's return:

My relationship with Monchi during all these years has been idyllic, both personally and professionally. Probably even better personally. Monchi didn't leave because he didn't get on with me and he hasn't come back because he does. He thought he had earned the chance to try something different and he has come back because he knows there's no better place for him than here. Monchi is returning to the same post he had when he left. He hasn't been promoted because he was already in the highest post at the club. We are a team and we both work together keeping the club's economic possibilities in mind.