MACHÍN ON EL GRAN DERBI: "LET RED BLOOD BE EVEN REDDER"

Pablo Machín, Sevilla FC manager, spoke to the media ahead of this Sunday's Gran Derbi. The boss showed that he knew the kind of match he was in for: "You'd have to ask the fans if they prefer a better position in the league or winning the derby. People would say both. We're looking for that. To do well in the league you have to win the derby. This match has implications beyond just three points. There's a feeling all around Seville. The result can carry a lot of stick with it for a lot of time. Everyone likes to give and not receive stick. For me, the favourite is my team, in the derby and in all matches. They'll say the advantage goes to the home side and that fans are more powerful in these games. I always consider myself favourite or at least with the chance of winning on any field. But I don't think myself above anybody else. Not in football or life. You have to make your own road. And that will be marked by a lot of respect. We're all in the same league and we're all professionals. Today we could be on top, the next day down at the bottom. We have to be coherent". 

"I know the result can be the source of a lot of stick"

In that regard, Machín is well clued in on the significance of the game for the city: "Perhaps I have the advantage of knowing my predecessor (Joaquín Caparrós). I have experienced a lot of derbies from afar. Since I had my very first conversation with Joaquín, he told me what Seville is like, the city and the fans... and rivalries came up. I understand it's healthy. Derbies should be a celebration: with passion but nothing beyond that. Then it has repercussions in the day to day. We shouldn't go crazy. It's only one match". 

"It's a healthy rivalry with a lot of passion"

On on-field action, he spoke about the arrival of Promes and the injury of Sergio Escudero: "Today was his first training session. We'll decide the squad on Sunday. He has his chances. He doesn't know the style of play and the little details of the tactics. But if we need him, with the enthusiasm he has shown to come, he'll get those chances. I have to evaluate it. He comes in having competed and he's in perfect condition. On the left-back situation, in every game we try to explain nuances to our players, always treating ourselves with importance. There are going to be individual battles".

"Promes has come with a lot of enthusiasm and will have his chances"

Machín also ruled out any sort of "help" for his men ahead of the match: "Sevilla has enough with the coach. The players know the match that faces them. A lot of players have experience. I've encouraged them to speak with the new ones to make them see what the derby means. I want red blood to be redder. It's a match with a lot responsibility. We have to compete and be on the pitch to win and to show respect with the backing of the fans". On the result: "An away win. The result is less important. The important thing is the win. We can't just talk about it though, we have to do it on the pitch". 

"The priority? An away win"

With respect to the opponent, Machín expects a tough team, who have reinforced their squad well: "They've already shown they're a great team. They grow from season to season. They're making big investments and they've been working along a fixed line of work for a long time. They started a bit poorly last season but they made that change in the way of playing, something similar to us. They try to carry out a game with a lot of link-up play with the ball. Sincerely, Betis are a good team but Sevilla are too. We're going to try and demonstrate that we can overcome them". 

"For me, from today, the squad is at its best"

Outside of the derby, he spoke on the Europa League and the end of the transfer market: "At the end of the day, professionals know what happens last minutes. I'm clear that the scouting team has tried to build the best squad possible. From today, the squad is the best. We have to trust it. I'll get the very most out of it, that's my job. Without Portu but with other players who are going to help us win a lot of matches. Portu came up a lot. I know him very well but others have come up too. Some that didn't come up that much have arrived and are good players. We have to focus on who we have rather than who could have been here". On the European draw: "The most important thing was that we were in the draw. After magnificent seasons in Europe, we had a high coefficient that in theory makes our calendar more palatable. We'll have time to evaluate opponents when the moment comes. On being favourites, I'll speak with Joaquín. Sevilla has a brilliant recent history in the competition but we don't live in the past but in the present. We have to be objective. We've been great and we want to continue to be but we have to show it".