CASTRO: "I SEE THE MANAGER AND PLAYERS EVERY DAY, THEY'RE DEDICATED"

03/06/2020

An extensive press conference offered this Wednesday by the Chairman of Sevilla FC in which he reviewed the current situation in Nervión

Sevilla FC Chairman, José Castro, spoke to the Seville press via video call on Wednesday morning, adapting to the "new normal" which will reign for the next few months given the pandemic that has battered the whole world. An appearance in which he covered many points regarding the latest Sevilla FC news, fans in stadiums, and, of course, the upcoming, different derby at the Sánchez-Pizjuán on Thursday 11th.

A match which, despite recent news, Castro has discared the possibility of fans in the stands: "I hope it could be like that, it would be good news, not just for football, but because it would be a sign that the pandemic is passing. But we have to go on with calmness and prudence. Let's be cautious and wait. I think it's too quick. We're talking about a very serious thing and we have to have patience and go forward with caution. Whatever we do, we have to do alongside LaLiga, and, in turn, alongside the health authorities".

With fans or without, the derby is already offering up talking points. Del Nido, Caparrós and different personalities in the football world have put their opinions on the table, which José Castro was asked about: "At the club we opt for caution. We are Sevilla FC, and for a long time, we ignore the subject of localisms. Beating Betis is important, but what's truly important are the three points up for grabs, they're necessary to achieve our aims. From Sevilla FC, what we'll put on the table is hard work, sacrifice, caution, and of course, our eagerness to beat Betis".

Sevilla FC are fourteen points clear of their city rivals in the table, but that isn't a decisive factor for the Chairman: "It's true we have that advantage, but in derbies there are always results that you can't imagine. Derbies are like that. Anything can happen, independent of the number of points each team has".

"The derby will have millions of viewers and we have to be up to it both on and off the pitch"

He continued: "They have a good team and it will be a difficult and hard-fought match. We can win, we're playing at home, although we won't have fans there, and we understand that we have the team to do it. We would be wrong to give opinions from within the Club that could lead to something we don't want in our city. It's been very difficult to have the derbies played with calmness within the rivalry. And on this occasion we'll have something that's never happened, it will be the first match in the Spanish league after the resumptions, the derby will have millions of viewers and we have to be up to it both on and off the pitch".

"We can't just think about the first match, we have important commitments ahead of us"

This will be the first of the eleven remaining matches in the league, with European competition to follow. For that reason, the Chairman is not taking his eyes off the horizon that lies ahead for Sevilla FC: "Our team is working with a huge intensity, with many desires, effort, happines... All we want is for the 11th to arrive, and win. And then, the next match, and the next match. We can't just think about the first match, there are many to think of it, we have important commitments in the league and then the Europa League".

The statistics show that the only competition to have resumed so far, the Bundesliga, has produced more away wins than home ones, is this something that concerns the president of Sevilla FC?: "I'm not worried because from the start of training, from the time the players started at home, right up to now when they've been at the training ground, we've been watching them very closely. We have a manager who puts in a thousand percent for the players, he's in a proven category, he's got ability and experience and will do great things in our Club. It's what I see every day, the manager and the players are dedicated, with intensity, desire, strength... Quality should be noted on the pitch and the quality that our team has should help us to win, whilst always respecting Betis because anything can happen. But I trust my team in starting well".

"The Champions League is a desire, not an obligation"

Eleven matches to secure a Champions League place, is it now an obligation, given the economic situation that is predicted for next season? "It would be an obligations if the rest of those teams with similar budgets didn't have them, and they had smaller ones. So yes. It's more of a desire, because there are very important sides with high budgets who are also going for it. We've been in those sports this season and we're excited. We'll play our hearts out in these eleven games to achieve this aim which is very important for us".

He spoke about the budgets "which will have to be adapted ahead of next season and they will be smaller, but still we'll have to see what happens regarding television rights and the transfer window". Castro denied the chance to play the rest of the league season at the training ground "out of respect for the competition", while increasing the value of the academy ahead of the next campaign: "The market that is predicted to be shorter, whilst being less costly, so the academies will be more important. I hope it'll be like that, it's good for the national team and for many things. I'm sure a promising youngster will get into the squad ahead of next season".