Julen Lopetegui, on the eve of Borussia Dortmund vs Sevilla FC

LOPETEGUI: "THE TEAM IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MATCH"

08/03/2021
"We have to play a good game of football, without obsessing over the result"

Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla FC manager, has given his pre-match press conference on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg fixture against Borussia Dortmund. The Basque manager, at the Signal Iduna Park, began by highlighting that "the world of football and even more so at this speed will depend on how you face the next challenge. We will try with all our might". 

"Every team has better and worse moments, but the team is very much alive and they're really looking forward to this match. It's what the team deserve after last season and this season so far. It's a tough, complicated first-leg result, but we're going to put all our effort into it, without any doubt", continued Lopetegui.  

"We have to play a great game against a great opponent with world-class players"

The manager then spoke about team selection and his intentions in tomorrow's match: "I'm always positive and we will wait until today's training session to decide. We are conscious that we have to play a good game of football, both in attack and defence, without obsessing over the result. That's where all our intention is going to go. We have to play a great game against a great opponent with world-class players".

Lopetegui stated that "we are not focused on praise or criticism, but on our objectives. We play every three days and now it's time for the last 16 of the Champions League. We are hopeful that we will be able to play a great game. From then on we'll be looking to have chances, we're coming here and we're very keen to do so. We have to be capable of playing at a high level". 

"Before matches, I only have lots of enthusiasm and excitement, and I always have a positive feeling"

"We're coming here with all the desire and enthusiasm to try and do it despite the bad result. We have the whole match ahead of us to create those hopes. That's the message we're sending out, we will try with all our might. Before matches, I only have lots of enthusiasm and excitement, and I always have a positive feeling", confirmed Lopetegui. 

"We're up against Borussia Dortmund, they have Haaland, who is such a good striker", the Sevilla FC manager concluded.