CASTRO: "MANCHESTER UNITED ARE A BIG CLUB, BUT THIS IS OUR COMPETITION"

José Castro spoke to the big media presence in Manchester having just landed with the side in the United Kingdom. "We know how difficult this stage of the competition is, especially because they are a big club with an enormous squad. The stadium, the squad, their budget, the teams that they have eliminated... these are all intimidating factors. But this is our competition and we are going to make it as difficult for them as possible, with the hope that we will get through to the next round as we have done on other occasions with this team."

At this moment there is no time to think about LaLiga: "we have got to focus on Old Trafford. We have the opportunity, after the bad league season we are having, to do something outstanding by passing into the next round of the Europa League. Sevilla never surrenders, we have an opportunity and we plan to make the most of it against a big club who are in good form. But, we are the kings of this competition, we are going to make it tough for them and the squad is aware that for Sevilla, the Europa League means something different.

I see more options now because the team is more compact and better in every department, but most importantly we are getting players back from injury. So many injuries in the same positions has affected us a lot and now the coach has more options, something that could be a deciding factor in this tie."  

"The squad knows that for Sevilla, the Europa League means something different"

He was also asked about Acuña's ban: "I would have preferred it if it were just one game, but we have to be careful because we are playing a lot. You have to speak to the referee as little as possible, we are going to see if the sanction could be less as it has just been announced."

On the theme of officiating, he said: "We didn't release a statement because we wanted to, but because what is going on is not normal. It's not usual how many red cards are being handed out in LaLiga. Something is happened. The fourth official said that there had been a foul when all of the players kept on playing, and then the referee gave a yellow card which nobody understood. We are clear that the referees have to be independent. All teams will have a reason to complain at some point. There are things which nobody knows when a ref is going to blow their whistle, and when they aren't. The hands, the intentional nature... and then the cards and the lack of criteria for awarding them. The card for Pape the other day shows how there isn't synchronisation on the topic. The players kept on playing and nobody saw any wrongdoing, not even the referee.  But the pressure of the occasion got to him, he annoyed the players and this meant there were more bookings later in the game. The referee ought to go unnoticed and not be the main focus of the game."

To end, he also spoke about the club's involvement in the LaLiga Summer Tour in August: "LaLiga organised fixtures in these countries and they are to get us ready. A derby, wherever it is, is something special. And if it is economically beneficial, this is also important."