Óscar Arias, en Radio Marca
First team

ARIAS: "WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT"

30/10/2017
The Director of Football asked for patience, showed his confidence in Berizzo and the quality of the squad and highlighted the potential of the side, with many players yet to reach their peak

Sevilla FC's Director of Football, Óscar Arias, spoke to Radio Marca this Monday in a talk-show that addressed the current shape of the side. For Arias, "the team hasn't finished finding its best game, we've seen glimpses and moments. We're still looking. We have to be patient. The start with Sampaoli was also difficult and in the first games we struggled to find our game but the results were building up, like they are now. We still have a lot of room for improvement".

All in all, the Director of Football asked for patience, as the stats "matter little for now, they only matter at the end, when we see if we've achieved our aims. Obviously, you have to hit a certain number of points at different stages in the season. We have 19, in the fight for where we want to be... We're still on the road to achieving the performance we want. We have a very complete squad, with two safe players in each position. Anything we achieve will be because everyone reaches their most competitive level. We are competing, in the upper part of the table. In the Champions League we have a very important match against Spartak which, if we win, would put us where we want to be".

"We've seen glimpses but the team hasn't finished finding its game"

He also, naturally, had comments on Eduardo Berizzo: "Celta is Celta and Sevilla is Sevilla. He did a great job there, he took them to heights they hadn't achieved for years. Now he has a different squad of players, with more quality from my perspective, but different. We're getting results, he's working well, even though we may not have achieved the game we all want. It affects him when things don't go the way he wants".

In that regard, he made it clear that the dismissal of the coach after heavy defeats against Spartak and Valencia was never an option. "We would be bad professionals if we did that. Both good and bad form comes, it happens. There are good runs and others that happen like last week. We were second and leaders of our Champions League group and in a week and with two heavy defeats came the calls: the coach wasn't good enough, nor the players, nor the Director of Football. I have never doubted Berizzo, two matches aren't enough to be making those kinds of decisions", he said. 

"We have two safe players for every position"

For Arias, "the team is still in a hybrid phase between what they were under Sampaoli and what Eduardo wants to do. The team hasn't finished settling into their game and new ideas. We saw the high press he wants to use at times in Valencia, you see details but we're yet to see continuity". 

Another subject that came up was the rotations Eduardo Berizzo has made at the start of the campaign: "It's possible that players like Navas and Nolito, who come off the back of a period of inactivity, without having a lot of minutes, need longer to fine tune. But the coach uses the squad because he wants to compete at 100% in three competitions. Having a squad like we have he understands he should use the squad so we come into every match with maximum energy and enthusiasm".

"If the strikers aren't scoring it's because the team is lacking convincing build-up play"

Focussing on the near future, he discussed this Wednesday's crucial clash against Spartak: "This is an extremely important match for us. This is the Champions League, an extremely demanding competition". 

For this match it will be fundamental that Wissam Ben Yedder and Luis Muriel play well. Discussing both players, he stressed: "Ben Yedder is undervalued, I don't understand how anyone can have their doubts about him, last year he scored 18 goals and he's secured 8 so far this year. The figures do the talking - Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo has scored just one goal this season. I am worried for the team, if the strikers cannot find the goal it is because of a lack of team strength in build-up play". 

“Ben Yedder is undervalued, Muriel will continue to grow at the club and so will his performance"

With regards to Muriel: "He cost the club 20 million Euros - it's inevitable that he's going to be under the spotlight. We tried to take the pressure off, he took it well and he is aware of the existing pressure. People believe that, because he cost 20 million, he should score 25 goals. We are convinced that he will continue to grow as a player, and so will his performances on the pitch. I am certain that, in time, things will improve for the striker". 

More Sevilla FC names. Banega, Sarabia, Carriço and Pareja. Talking about the former he commented: "In a dip of form it's easier to point the finger at the players. If the team isn't working as well, it affects everyone. Ever isn't at his best and it's unideal. He came injured in his last call-up but we've all seen what he's capable of".

"If the team isn't working as well, it affects everyone. Ever isn't at his best, but we've all seen what he's capable of" 

Furthermore, he discussed Sarabia and a possible contract renewal: "These are decisions that we will discuss in time. It is possible that someone could meet his release clause but we are not thinking about it at this moment in time. We've spoke to Pablo and he isn't looking to leave the club, he is happy here. Money isn't everything. There is room for him to grow here and he knows that". 

Regarding the two first team captains: "They are injured at the moment, when they began this wasn't the case. They are unfortunate circumstances that can happen to anyone, they aren't prone to injury. The manager made sure that Carriço stayed at the club - there was interest in him but no offer. Dani has been successful in 3 Europa Leagues while at Sevilla FC. He is of particular importance to the club and we have complete confidence in him. We make decisions based on as much information as possible. Having people in the changing-room that make up the team, that come together and that are positive are things to take into account. It's important there are players to make everything flow well". 

Pareja and Carriço: "It's important there are players to make everything flow well"

Finally, asked about future transfers, Arias said that "there's a lot of time to go, the team has to finish developing and we need to know what to expect from players in the short term... The winter market is harder, it's very restricted. In summer everything in the market is open, in the middle of campaign clubs are far less willing to offload important players. If we're interested in singing a player, the sooner the better, but it's not easy." 

Asked more specifically about Daniel Wass, he said: "he's a good player and the gaffer knows him very well. We considered the option for if someone left in the centre of the park, but that didn't happen and now he plays for Celta".