Lopetegui in the press conference before Levante UD

First team

LOPETEGUI: "LEVANTE ARE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS AWAY FROM HOME"

18/10/2019

"Coming back after the international break is always tricky, but we have to adapt to these situations"

Julen Lopetegui, this Friday afternoon, gave his press conference ahead of Sunday's game at home to Levante UD, just after Friday's training session was over. Lopetegui started off by saying that "Levante are a good side. They are very dangerous away from home because of how they approach games and how they adapt to different situations. It's easy to see that they have good players and are well organised. We are going to need to play a good game to win against them".

"We take it game by game, we're only thinking about Levante. Coming back after the international break is always tricky, but we have to adapt to these situations and be at the top of our game, both physically and mentally, to compete with them. We've had a lot of players away on international duty and we've only had a couple of training sessions where everyone has been together to prepare for the game. But these are the situations that arise and we have to adapt to them", Lopetegui continued.

"We are focused on Levante; we are up for the game because it is going to demand a lot from us"

Lopetegui insisted that Levante are going to demand a lot of his team on Sunday: "There are no easy games and Levante are a great team who are going to demand a lot of us. I think that if it's possible, they're even more dangerous away from home. We are up for the game. We are focused on Sunday's game and everyone's international games are now a distant memory".

Talking about his strikers, Lopetegui said: "I treat them all the same. It's always great when they score, like Dabbur did. It's good for them, they are happy but it doesn't change how they train everyday. As for De Jong, he has to learn to live on his natural instincts. Scoring is what these guys live for; but in both the good and the bad spells in front of goal, they have to help the team".

"It's vital that the internationals get back, straight away, to their responsibilities here, with Sevilla"

"It doesn't change the way in which we prepare for the game. Everybody has a chance to play and they all have our confidence. There's a lot of games coming up on us now and everyone will get their chance, no doubt about it".

To finish off, Lopetegui talked about the importance that the internationals get back to thinking about Sevilla FC: "I'm not going to assess whether we have the best or not. We are happy with everyone, with those who went on international duty and those that stayed here. It's always nice when they get called up by their countries, but it's vital that they get back to their responsibilities here, with Sevilla".