Julen Lopetegui at the Dortmund pre-match press conference
First team

LOPETEGUI: "WE'RE FOCUSED ON GIVING OUR FANS SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT, BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT"

04/10/2022
"They are an excellent opponent, they are more united as a team than when Haaland was there," he said of Borussia Dortmund.

Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla FC coach, appeared at midday on Tuesday at the pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's tie against Borussia Dortmund, in the third matchday of the Champions League group stage. The Basque coach began by stressing that, "we have our minds focused on a high-stakes, exciting match against an important opponent. We have earned the right to play and fight for the three points. The squad is concentrated and focused on the only important thing, which is to play in a Champions League match and to give our fans something to cheer about, which is what they deserve."

"I'm on the same page as the players. I'm excited and focused on my main role which is to encourage, train and mentally prepare an excellent group of players and to aid them in finding the way out of our rough patch. That's what we've done in the 169 games we've played so far, and nothing is going to change in game 170, preparing ourselves with energy, enthusiasm and doing our best. That's what we're going to do, without a doubt," he continued.

"They are the Germany's finest alongside Bayern and they've been playing well despite some poor results"

On tomorrow's opponent: "They are an excellent opponent, they are more united as a team than when Haaland was there. They are playing well despite some poor results. They are Germany's finest alongside Bayern. The important thing is what they will find out tomorrow, that we will have an answer to their style of play, and we can use what we have to give ourselves the best possible chance of winning."

Julen Lopetegui also responded that "out of respect for my main role I'm not going to give my opinion on what has happened in recent months. I prefer to focus on my role of coaching a great club like Sevilla. 170 games at a team as demanding as Sevilla is no mean feat, nor is achieving what we have. I'm not going to change my opinion or my attitude, I will continue to trust in the process because I have to live up to the demands of the club and the fans, who deserve the best from all those in charge of this club. I'm going to do my best in what I do and my matchday role. There have been 169 games so far and tomorrow we are going to do it again. I prefer to focus on the role that I have."

"Tomorrow we play a demanding Champions League match, a tough battle, a war. We are not going into it downbeat, with excuses or doubts. While I am in charge of my players I will try to instil a mentality of strength, energy, character, responsibility and confidence into them. That's what I try to do. That's why I was talking about the responsibility we all have towards our club, but above all towards our fans. I will continue to do what I have done since I got here, because that is what I believe in and what I think I can do and have done in all my four years at this beloved club. We will try to change our fortunes and make the fans happy by giving our all and working hard," he added.

On the subject of the fans, the Sevilla coach stated that "the fans will do what they've done all along, except during the pandemic, which is to fill us with drive and energy while at the same time demanding high standards from us. The fans have to be won over and I think we have done that. We have to work hard and give our all, which is what my coaching staff and I have done and will continue to do. The fans are everything and we have to understand, appreciate and respect them."

"Acuña has completed part of the training session and we will see if he can take part tomorrow, he is very important for us"

Lopetegui referred to the fitness of Marcos Acuña, after he was unable to play against Atlético de Madrid: "Acuña has been able to participate in part of the training session and we'll see if he can take part tomorrow. Hopefully he can, because he is a very important player for us."

"We have always been self-critical, while I've been here anyway. We've been through complex and difficult moments and we've gotten through. Self-criticism is always on our minds. It is essential for us to keep growing and improving," he concluded.