LAMELA: "WE HAVE TO GET OFF TO THE BEST POSSIBLE START AND WE HAVE THE SQUAD TO DO IT"

After the second day of training sessions at the training camp in Montecastillo, Erik Lamela spoke to Sevilla FC Official Media about the team's preparations.

He began by emphasising the team's good start: "We've started working very well, we've just finished our second day. We're happy and getting ready for the start of the season. The heat aside, the sessions are intense. Every effort will aid our preparation."

"It's time for us to work, we've had time to enjoy our holidays. We're focusing on the start of the season, we have some friendlies to get us ready. Every effort will help us to head into the season in the best possible way. There will be matches that will help us a lot. Even though they're friendlies, we have to compete as well as possible to prepare ourselves so that what happened last season doesn't happen again, we didn't start well in LaLiga. We want it to serve as experience to start as well as possible."

"The way the coach corrects us makes you improve and pay attention"

Lamela highlighted the role of José Luis Mendilibar in the sessions: "It's intense, the sessions are intense and we're happy with that, we're here to work. The more intense it is, the team competes better. We all have to improve and learn, there's always time for that. The way the coach corrects us makes you improve and pay attention so that you don't make the same mistake the next time you have the ball. Mendilibar deserved his contract extension for the great work he's done since he arrived. He changed the way the team were and we were able to have that final that we won, it was the reward for the hard work we put in."

The Argentine also stressed the importance of the good atmosphere amongst the squad, and the arrival of Federico Gattoni: "I get on well with everyone, I'm lucky to have a great group around me. I'm really close with Acuña and Montiel, and the other Argentines of course. Having mate with them makes us more together. Now we have Fede, there's even more of us. We have a great group, I speak on behalf of all of us.

"Fede is keen to improve, I can really see it. You can see what kind of player he is, he's training hard. He looks very good, he's got personality and physically he's very strong. We will try to make sure he settles in as much as possible so he's at his best and helps us."

Lamela then spoke about how he settled in two years ago: "As soon as I arrived they welcomed me really well and I always felt comfortable in the dressing room and on the pitch. I was lucky that my teammates welcomed me well and I settled in very quickly."

"We're capable of anything"

The winger then fondly remembered his winning goal against Juventus and just what it meant to the club: "My best goal was the one against Juventus, it's my most important one here. It was a very tough year and we suffered for a long time. Every time we were down, we lifted ourselves up and never stopped fighting. It showed that if we are alive, we're capable of anything. It was a show of character."

"We know what we're capable of, and, for better or worse, we depend on ourselves regarding how committed we are and how we play in each match. We started very badly but we finished very well. We have to be focused and know that we are capable of doing anything. I think this year will be different. The way I feel, I think it will be a great year. We have to get off to the best possible start and we have the squad to do it."

Erik also recalled the UEFA Europa League Final against AS Roma, and his spot-kick in the shootout: "I was focused on scoring, it was very important. I was thinking about putting it down the middle, but the goal gets smaller as you approach it. I thought about hitting it close to the bar. I felt confident when I chose my spot and struck it hard so it would be difficult for the keeper to reach it. Fortunately I scored. It wasn't easy at all to win it, you have to beat top sides. That's why I was saying that we have to know how far we can go and know what we're capable of. We were able to win it, it was incredible for everyone."

The Argentine commented on how he has rested after an intense season: "Normally I get ready to start pre-season well. Maybe this year I've done less because I needed to recharge mentally. I'll have time to kick off the season as well as possible. I've been feeling good these last few days and I'm ready."

Following on from that, he again emphasised just how intense the sessions with Mendilibar have been: "It's perfect for me, I love that he demands so much from us, it means you don't stop focusing. Confidence is always important, it's good to have a coach who backs you up."

On a personal level, Lamela is in high spirits: "To be honest, I'm enjoying a good spell on a personal level. Experience has made me feel more mature, I can see things now that I didn't see before. I feel good and I'll try to contribute in every way, I'm always thinking about the team."

"I always want to play and be on the pitch"

Erik is a versatile player and is keen to contribute whether he plays: "Most of the time I either played on the right or just behind the striker, but last season I was on the left. Maybe it's not my favourite position, but wherever the coach plays me is fine. I always want to play and be on the pitch."

His personal challenge for the season is to beat last season's goalscoring tally, and wishes to return to the Argentine national team: "I scored a few last season, I hope I can score more this year. I think I can do it, that's my challenge. For every player, there's nothing better than playing for your national team. The whole country is behind you and it makes me proud. I hope I'll have a chance in the future, but I have to be focused on my club, Sevilla, I owe everything to them."

"We turned things around ahead of the match against Manchester United, and a lot of that was down to the fans"

Lamela and his family have been enjoying life in Sevilla since his arrival and are grateful for the fans' support: "I like everything, I love Sevilla. I'm very happy and so are my family. My kids are happy. I like how I'm treated at the club by the staff and the fans. A lot of people were telling me that Sevilla are important in Europe, and how we managed to win it again. We turned things around ahead of the match against Manchester United, and a lot of that was down to the fans. What we felt in the stadium was unique, I'd never felt anything like it since I joined. The team felt it and a lot of that is thanks to the fans."

The ex-Tottenham man then discussed the UEFA Super Cup clash with Manchester City: "They're a great team, everyone knows it. We know that we're a great team and that we can compete against anyone. We showed that last season and that's what we have to have in mind."

As for this season, Lamela believes the team can qualify for the UEFA Champions League via the league, and spoke about the importance of starting well in this year's Group Stage: "I'm sure we can qualify this year, we have a great squad. We have to be focused on what we can achieve. Last season we started that badly that it became increasingly difficult to recover. Now we have the chance to start well and say "we're here." 

"It's a new challenge on a personal level, and for the team too. Things haven't gone well in the Champions League these last two years and I think we can go further. It's prestigious, it makes us proud. It's a chance to show people that we can compete against anyone and go far."

To finish, he wished to send another message thanking the fans: "I want to thank them for last season, they always filled the stadium in the bad times and you don't forget that. We'll give our all like we did last season. We'll do everything to do as well as possible."