SUSO: "I SPENT A LONG TIME WAITING FOR YESTERDAY"

246 days after his final appearance last season, in the 2-2 draw against Alavés on 20th November 2021, Suso was delighted to make his return to action on Sunday evening.

The winger missed the last six months of the 2021/22 season due to an injury picked up in training, but he came off the bench during the Troféu Cinco Violinos fixture against Sporting CP.

Those 15 minutes on the pitch, before scoring the fifth penalty in the shoot-out, have been a major boost after a lengthy lay-off.

"I'm feeling good. I spent a long time waiting for yesterday and I'm quite happy to have taken a weight off my shoulders by coming back after not being able to do it last season."

"How it happened, it hasn't been easy. I injured my hamstring, I relapsed, I recovered, then while I was training with my teammates my ankle went..."

"I've been out for a long time, I got that weight off my shoulders yesterday and I'm happy even if it was only 15 minutes."  

"Yesterday I felt like a footballer again"

Although the man from Cádiz has had to wait a long time, he worked as hard as he could to get back out on the pitch.

"I haven't stopped this summer, I've been training the whole time and now I'm at that point where I'm nearly at 100%, but I need to be competing so that I'm at my best with my teammates." 

"Yesterday I felt like a footballer again, I felt that tingling sensation of playing again and being alongside my teammates, our opponents, feeling the atmosphere in the stadiums." 

"Julen congratulated me yesterday for feeling part of the group again"

Suso then spoke about his current goals, and was keen to to show to his gratitude to Julen Lopetegui, who was equally pleased with the winger's return.

"One of my objectives last season, as the team were doing very well, was to return to the national team. But now I'm looking to feel good first, to find myself and play as much as possible."

"Julen congratulated me yesterday for feeling part of the group again, last year was a strange year and the coach knows me and I will try to help the team as much as possible."

"In football it's rare for a manager to stay for so long and it's an important fact about the coach, the results have been very good, but he's been outstanding." 

"The main aim is playing as much as I can"

As for other aims, playing as many minutes as possible to get back to his best is key, and he commented on where he feels comfortable on the pitch.

"The main aim is playing as much as I can, that's how I get back into the rhythm and intensity that my teammates already have. I've been out for eight months and you can tell, I haven't been able to stop and go on holiday because then my ankle suffers."

"I'm comfortable playing between the lines and I'm also comfortable on the wing... now it's difficult to find teams with a number 10, football is much more physical now." 

"4-2-3-1 is my favourite formation because it gives you more freedom, but with the coach we've played quite well."

"The competition for places makes you play better"

Attentions then turned to his teammates, the competition for places, and a strong performance on Sunday evening.

"The best teams have the best players in the world and the competition for places makes you play better, and be more competitive and alert. The more players the better, then the team has more options and that's good for the group."

"There's never been any arguments and those who played less often always pulled in the same direction, that makes the difference."

"I wouldn't know how to explain last year. Everything happened and competing with 14 players isn't the same as competing with 25."

"I was surprised by the first half yesterday, we were against a good side who start their league next week and the change in intensity wasn't noticeable. That shows the good work by both the coaches and the group, and also the quality we have."

"Fernando is an important player, if he's not playing there are others who will do well too, but because of the way we play he's important for us."

"Navas never gets tired, it's just second nature for him and I don't think he's ever going to change, he'll set his own pace."

"A club like Sevilla always has to be in the Champions League"

Suso then spoke about the team's desire to be in Europe's elite competition, and an unusual season ahead due to the World Cup.

"Sevilla are a role model when it comes to the Europa League, but a club like this always has to be in the Champions League. It's a club that's growing on and off the pitch, and the more you grow, so do the demands. Our aim is to be in the UCL every year and we want to improve on last season in all competitions."

"Last season in the Champions League was a bit misleading, I always say that the best teams in Europe are in this competition and there's no easy matches, but at the same time it's true that we didn't do well."

"We have the mid-season break this year. I suppose we'll have some days off, but then we'll train and play so we don't lose our rhythm."

"LaLiga is the most difficult competition, it's the longest one too and we've done well so far, but as I say every year we have to aspire to more."

To finish, he wished to send a message to the fans.

"The fans have always been on top form, even in the rain, which is admirable. They will now be expecting more from me and I think it's the time to keep progressing."

"As a group we'll try to improve in all areas, and on a personal level I'll try to get back into the swing of things and once I feel good with my teammates, I'll give it my all".