JOSÉ CASTRO: "WE WILL HAVE AN EXCITING TEAM AGAIN"

The Sevilla FC president José Castro appeared on Monday on the talk show 'La Jugada' on Canal Sur Radio in Seville. The Sevilla president analysed in detail the current state of play after the end of a historic season starting first by indicating that "in the last few games it has gotten a bit long. We have played three parts of the season extraordinarily well but the other part not so well... I am left with the numbers that don't fool anyone and there we are for a third consecutive year." In this sense, he was asked what would have been of the team without the problems that stopped the coach from being able to count on several of his players throughout the season: "It is true that it has been an unusual season, we were not good in Europe or the cup, there are things to improve. The team has been on an upward curve to achieve important things. In December we strengthened the team because it could have been the year but football is sometimes like this. I have never seen so many injury problems as we have seen this year... Many things have happened, I don't want to pour fuel on the fire because the reality is the reality but it hasn't been normal and it has weakened our performances. If it hadn't been for injuries who knows what could have happened with this Sevilla?" 

Despite the inconveniences during the season, Castro gave a high mark to the team: "The management also depends on the problems. Covid affected everyone, then serious injuries such as Lamela in his best form. Suso was not able to finish the season... The mark has to be very good, excellent. We have to assess what we are doing, it seems that a moment has arrived in which being in the Champions League is our obligation but what we are doing is very difficult and there are teams looking to do the same. We assess what is being done in a league as competitive as ours, with a packed calendar and full of internationals coming and going. We assess fairly what we are doing because it is a lot more difficult than a lot of people think." 

"We assess what is being doing in a league as competitive as ours"

In terms of the coach, in addition to pointing out that he has a contract, he highlighted that the spirit of Sevilla knows how to value one of its own: "Eleven games ago the fans chanted the name of Lopetegui. The fans have enough wisdom to value the objectives achieved by the coach. When things are good, generally nothing changes. If there's one thing I am, it is someone who knows how to listen but the results don't fool anyone. We have to be self-critical, in the last 10 games we were very bad and it seemed we couldn't stop in this fourth part of the season but we can't forget that we went to Cologne with Lopetegui and we won against four big teams. Many times we were not able to play the players we wanted, I am sure that we made many mistakes and we have to improve in our medical department." 

The president was also questioned about the possibility of selling, something he doesn't rule out to keep the hallmark that has made the club great and building a new squad that can create hope in Sevilla: "It hasn't escaped anyone's attention that we have grown by selling. We don't have the obligation to sell but if there are offers we will do what we do and try to bring in players who will give us sporting and economic success. We will make an exciting team again. It is possible that some will go and others will come in, there is a management team that has Lopetegui. We are not going to be desperate for a sale, clearly you have to understand that the pandemic has left an important deficit. There were offers for Koundé and Diego Carlos that we understood we couldn't accept but it is not always going to be this way." 

"Si vendemos, traeremos a jugadores que nos den gloria deportiva y económica"

"If we sell, we try to bring in players that will give us sporting and economic success"

Castro was also proud for having been the host of the UEFA Europa League final highlighting that Sevilla FC doesn't have a limit: "Sevilla never limit themselves in anything. We are ambitious but we have to understand that we have grown a lot and what remains is difficult. We are going to try everything to try to stay here to be able to be close to achieving something even more important. We will never lose the hope of achieving something more." It is for that reason that he is also self-critical and he works every year for a competitive team: "Lopetegui is the Sevilla coach and he knows perfectly well what the objectives are for the club and how we are and what we want. I am sure that we are going to have a competitive team, it is a difficult year because of the numbers but we will look for the formula so that the club, squad and coach continue believing in doing better things. The pandemic has given us an important financial blow and things don't drop come from the sky and we will have to make a movement."

To finish, in addition to highlighting the work of the management team, who never stop, he again highlighted the transformation that is continually being looked at for the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán: "In the next two or three weeks we will have had the studies carried out. Our stadium needs cover. It rained in 7 games. It is very hot and we have to be careful with this... our fans need and deserve better for the loyalty and support. Our stadium will not be a home for 15 days, but there is a new area where events are held. We have to use the necessary economic resources so that we have income and the stadium name is a base. We will see what we can do with the capacity as well."