Sevilla FC's Sporting Director, Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo 'Monchi', was virtually interviewed this morning by the Cámara de Sevilla Foundation where he offered a talk on 'How to Build a Team.' With journalist Cristóbal Cervantes as moderator, Monchi went over various points that, in his view, are fundamental in the creation of a team. These seven points are leadership, self-belief, self-criticism, decision making, teamwork, resilience and passion.
After the conference, Monchi answered some questions from the viewers, such as the Club's response to the pandemic: 'You have to reinvent yourself and look for solutions that before didn't exist or you thought weren't necessary. When things go bad there are two paths: drop your head and feel like a victim, or look for solutions. It was tough for me because as Sporting Director I'm in the middle of everything that surrounds the team. We lifted our head to find answers because life isn't all sunshine and roses. We had some really complicated moments but you have to try things out and not let your doubts overcome you.'
Furthermore, he was asked about the European Super League and the importance of fans in football: 'Football is passion and it belongs to the fans. Obviously there has been an evolution and now the majority of clubs are independent enterprises. But to lose sight of the fact that there is an essential customer, the fan, would lead us to ruin. We cannot turn our back on what moves football: passion. I'm more of a Sevilla fan than a Sporting Director and I'm not sure if it's an advantage or disadvantage. If I get excited after beating Real Sociedad it's not because I think we're going to increase our revenue with being in the Champions League - it's because I know we're making our people happy. That is our motto.'
'Losing sight of the fans would lead us to ruin. If I get excited when we win it's because we're making our people happy'
In other news, he wished to remain optimistic but cautious on the return of fans to the stadiums: 'There is some reports going around that there may be some fans for the last two games of La Liga. Let's hope the cases don't rise in this fourth wave and the situation can be stabilised. Football without fans loses its essence. A thing that has caught my attention however is how the players have been able to reinvent themselves and play to the same level without fans, something that we all doubted at the start.'
Finishing up, he reflected on his tweet after the win against Real Sociedad and the necessity to let your emotions out: 'Life is going by very quickly and I haven't been able to enjoy myself too much as I'm always focused on the tomorrow. I've missed out on time with my people and myself over my obsession to look for the minute details. The tweet meant let me be me for a minute. It came with the emotion of the game, I wanted to take off the mask of Sporting Director and be Monchi, but just for a minute.'
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