Vincenzo Montella entrenador del Sevilla FC

First team

MONTELLA: "WE HAVE FIVE MATCHES AND I WANT US TO BE RELYING ON OURSELVES"

26/04/2018

The Italian coach explained what happened in the days after the Copa del Rey final and showed clear focus on the upcoming fixture with Levante: "I've seen the team with a lot of motivation to change the last matches"

Vincenzo Montella gave his impressions on the side's upcoming La Liga Santander match with Levante UD, in a pre-match press conference which also dealt with a number of Club issues. The Italian started by explaining the last few days: "We came back to Seville to train and then we spoke to the Chairman. I had a firm commitment to travel and they authorised me to go to Milan for one day. On Tuesday we worked all together and I'm motivated for the next game, with the same enthusiasm and calm as ever because I've seen a team motivated to change how the last matches have gone. Tomorrow is an important game to win and to continue with the objective of getting into Europe".

He also spoke about the dismissal of Óscar Arias: "I have a good relationship with him. He's a great professional and I can't make an evaluation of the reasons behind the Club's decisions. I think he tried to help us until the very end, even until today. Football is like that". He also showed no nerves about the prospect of being replaced: "I'm not worried about what I can't control. I work with the same strength, confidence and enthusiasm as always. We're preparing for a match, knowing where we've gone wrong and the incredible things we have achieved. I'm not worried because the job of a manager is like that - when you win you're the best and when you lose everything is your fault. You have to be balanced because it's important the players feel the confidence they need and can play with calm".

"You have to have balance because the players need to feel confidence"

The Italian explained the exact terms of his meeting on Sunday: "I was with the Chairman and some members of the board, who listened to my explanations. I made an analysis of the season from when I started and I showed my confidence of reaching the Europa League. We've had bad games, like the final but if we're in Europe at the end - for me - it wouldn't be a bad season. Everyone will have their opinion".

He also spoke about the anger of the fans in the last few days: "I've understood it's the same everywhere. When there is great excitement and things don't come out well, everything becomes negative. I understand the reaction of the fans because they were very excited, just like us. Now we have to leave that to one side and be united because we have to qualify for Europe and united it will be easier. Afterwards every person will take their own decision but we need to show support to our players. They understand the situation and want to change it. Now we have one match a week and it's easier to prepare. We have to play with energy, to understand the situation and to play with balance and calm".

Montella also wanted to address criticims that he was not rotating his squad: "I don't understand this, I have made a lot of changes. When I arrived we implemented a new way of play, different to Berizzo and with other principles. I had to do so with the same side, making it clear to the players what I wanted from them. I have changed players, but if you change them all you cannot have an identity. Each coach has their own way of thinking, but during the season I have changed a lot despite the difficulty of training a side to play every 3 days. When we lose, bad decisions have always been made. Prior to Berizzo, it was said that too many changes were made, and now Montella does not make enough rotations. If the results are good, everything's fine, and if not, everything is wrong".

Recognising the bad performances seen this season, he acknowledged there was something different about the result against FC Barcelona: "We've had some terrible matches, and we've got things wrong. But with regards to the final, there was an impression that we hadn't run, but looking at the stats you realise that we ran more than ever. We didn't compete because the opponent was superior and we didn't have the confidence necessary to face them. We tried to win and play a perfect match, but we weren't able to".

"Prior to Berizzo, it was said that too many changes were made, and now Montella does not make enough"

The matter of N´Zonzi also arose: "I've spoken with both him and the group. He made a huge mistake after the match and he has apologised to his team and the fans. It is a matter of the Club, not just the coach. The group understand my decision but I do not want to comment further on it".

On the month of competition left, he said: "We have five matches and I want us to depend on ourselves. We have to believe that we can win at least four of five to confidently qualify for Europe". He finally talked briefly about Ganso's return to training, after a period of absence owing to fitness issues: "Ganso is a player with a lot of talent but he hasn't trained for three months because he had a problem. My responsibility is to train all the players and now he's training because he's available".