Julen Lopetegui in the dugout at Deportivo Alavés

First team

LOPETEGUI: "A DRAW AT A TOUGH PLACE TO GO WHILST IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES"

04/03/2022

"We have to carry on working hard and bringing players back as we have too many out at the minute"

Sevilla FC boss, Julen Lopetegui, analysed his team's Friday night performance in Vitoria: "It is a draw at a tough place to go whilst in difficult circumstances. A nil nil doesn't properly reflect on both the teams' chances. Perhaps the most clear-cut chance was ours near the end and we didn't capitalise. Now it's time to look forward, we came to pick up the three points, like always. They press well. We know the way Mendilibar's teams play and what gets them motivated, just like they do to us. We had to be imposing and get the three points, but today we couldn't."

"We have to carry on working hard and bring players back in. We have a lot of absences, too many as a matter of fact. The players competed honourably, in a great and positive manner. It's time to fill them with confidence, especially the players who aren't featuring too often. We must prepare ourselves for Thursday," added Lopetegui.

In closing, Lopetegui commented on Luisimi's entrance to the game: "We wanted to feed him the ball through the lines and the desire was there. There was a chance to send him through. Our plan went with Acuña's injury and we shifted to a three, but the team did a good job. Now it's time to bring whoever we can back, although it is difficult, and think about Thursday's game."