Two days ahead of the official return of LaLiga, centre back Jules Koundé spoke to official club media after Tuesday's training session. The Frenchman assured us that the group is ready and they're all eager for the action to get underway: "The last ten days were tough for me, I was alone at home without my family. Now, I'm finally with the group and we're keen to start again, especially with the derby".
"I didn't doubt that we would return very well. We trained really well at home with the work of the coaches and we came back very prepared, although the feelings of training at home are different and difficult. We feel good and we've already been back a month, we feel good for the first match", continued Koundé about the post-lockdown preparation.
"We're going to be in an environment we know little about and concentration is going to be very important"
For the youngster, a good mentality will be decisive in the final straight: "The mental and physical aspects are always important, but I think the mental aspect will be a little bit more important than normal, because the fans won't be there to support us and it will be different. We're going to be in an environment we know little about and concentration is going to be very important during these days".
On a personal level, Koundé looked very confident about maintaining his form from before the break: "As long as I play some matches consecutively I have more confidence, but when there have been difficult moments I never lost confidence. If you don't have confidence in yourself it's very difficult, I was playing well before the break and I feel good now, I'm very keen to return to competitive action. It helps being able to be with my teammates and fellow defenders, as does any advice that they give me. I'm a person who listens a lot and I take on board any advice they give me, because we're a group and everyone has their own importance within their age".
"Anything can happen in these games and it's important that we're all together"
On the other hand, regarding the squad, the Frenchman, like the rest of his teammates, highlighted the need to be united ahead of what's to come: "It's very important to be confident in yourself, every player here has their importance. We're a group, although some play more and others less, but it's crucial for the group to be united and ready to play so many matches in so few days. Anything can happen in these games and it's important that we're all together. We've had a good month of preparation, we're ready. We've got a few things to look at before the match but we look good and we're very keen to play and begin LaLiga again. We've got a lot of energy".
Finally, Koundé is not worrying about the table, but he stressed that the position that Sevilla are currently in is what they have to defend in these eleven matches: "We're not worrying about the table, although our aim is always clear, it's being in the Champions League. We're third and we're going to defend this position to the end to finish in those places".
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