Lopetegui during the press conference in Luxembourg

First team

LOPETEGUI: "THE TEAM AND THE SQUAD ARE NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE"

06/11/2019

"They're a team who posed us problems at home and have done so to other teams they've faced in Europe"

Julen Lopetegui, head coach of Sevilla FC, gave his press conference this evening, before the match against F91 Dudelange in the UEFA Europa League tomorrow, just after the team had touched down in Luxembourg. He started off by stating that "a difficult match awaits us tomorrow. They're a team who posed us problems and we weren't able to relax until the final whistle".

"They're a well organised side with physicality and some decent players. On their own turf they have more energy and impetus, and they will have more chances to hurt us; as they have done to other teams they have faced in Europe".

"We're only thinking about tomorrow's game. We're playing for three very important points, that's the aim"

He also assured that now wasn't the time to talk about the upcoming game on Sunday: "We're only thinking about tomorrow's game. The competition means a lot to this club and tomorrow we're playing for three very important points. That's our only objective. We are going into the game with all the respect in the world for our opponent and to achieve the result we want - which is to win the game and get another three points".

"At this point in the season we are playing a game every three days or so. Every player is important and the team and the squad are now more important than ever. It's our time to show what are resources are like and we have to focus on this competition which excites us a lot, especially playing against a team which is going to demand a lot of us", Lopetegui commented on how he saw his squad at this moment in time.

"There's no excuses, not about the pitch nor anything else. We have to be prepared to face a team with character"

Speaking about Banega, Lopetegui said that "he's still not 100%. He trained a little today and we will see how he feels later on in the week. Now, we're focusing on what we have and tomorrow, they will have to play a great game".

"There's no excuse at all for tomorrow's game, not about the pitch nor anything else. Tomorrow will most certainly not be an easy game, this competition has many good teams and we have to be at our best. Dudelange will show a lot of character and we will be prepared to be able to play the game we need to play".