LAMELA: "YOU MUST NEVER GIVE UP AND WE HOPE THAT I WILL SOON BE PLAYING AGAIN"

Erik Lamela was our guest on 'A Balón Parado' this Tuesday on Sevilla FC Television. The Argentine attacker commented on how he is feeling after an injury that still isn't the worse injury he has ever suffered: "We are recovering and fighting against another injury. I was out for 15 months with hip problems and that was much harder, also it happened to me at good stage in my career and football is like that. You must never give up and we hope that I will soon be playing again, having a strong mindset is important, mainly in the bad days. You have to be strong and thanks to the staff I'm on my way back. The first two months were difficult and now I'm slowly working my way back into training, hoping that I'm discharged and I can play. We are looking to get me back before the league break." 

In terms of adapting to Sevilla, Lamela pointed out it hasn't been difficult at all, settled from the first moment when he touched down in Nervión: "Adapting was really quick. From the first day I arrived they have treated me like family, incredible. I also feel the city's affection, the dressing room has a togetherness, we all going for the same thing and I fitted in perfectly since the beginning. From day to day my agent told me it was possible and I told him to make it happen. I spoke with Fazio, with Lucas Ocampos, with Mercado... When I was young I came to Spain to play a tournament and Sevilla wanted to bring me in when I was 12... José Luis Calderón saw me play and it was him that wanted to see me play for Sevilla." 

"I would love to win everything with Sevilla"

With the same token, the attacker spoke about the way he is and what he is hoping for against a side he knows very well from his time in England: "When I come back, I'm going to have to manage my anxiousness. I'm very impulsive. West Ham is a physical and powerful, I think they're eager to come here. We have to be smart. We have a good squad and we are well equipped... eager to play. I will be restless in the two games, I always go to the dressing room before and after the games because you have to support the boys wherever. Life is an experience and you have to enjoy every passing day. On the day of my debut we won 3-0 and I scored two goals, it went went well, I enjoyed it, I waved to my family in the stands... you can't ask for more. Here football is different. There is less contact and it's easy to link up with my teammates." 

In closing, Lamela highlighted how good the squad is despite the ongoing setbacks: "We have a great squad, it's a top team and it's a group performing at a top level. We have to get past the amount of injuries we have, many have come off the end of bad luck. I would love to win everything at Sevilla, the club has won many trophies and I would like to keep that up. The club is like a family."