First team

MONTELLA: "WE HAVE TO THINK OF IT AS NOT JUST A MATCH BUT THE MATCH"

06/02/2018
He said the team was "mentally prepared" and asked for a performance with "confidence" and "spirit" to put Sevilla through to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey

Vincenzo Montella spoke to the press ahead of Sevilla FC's Copa del Rey semi-final with CD Leganés this Wednesday. The Italian seemed in good spirits and even smiled at the press: "It's going to be a huge day for us and we're one step away from the final. I think the team is mentally prepared and we hope to go through", he said. He was quickly asked about a possible starting line-up "today I tried the line-up of Sergio Rico, Navas, Mercado, Lenglet, Escudero, N'Zonzi, Banega, Sarabia, Vázquez, Correa and Muriel... but that could change tomorrow". 

The coach explained that this Wednesday Sevilla needs to be "fearless" and "brave". He said the "key is to have confidence, have the appropriate spirit, think about it as not just a match, but the match". 

The boss wants a "fearless and brave" Sevilla 

He also assured the press that the team would not still be dwelling on their loss in Ipurúa but that the team did "feel ashamed to have not been able to win and for the result, but it was not the fault of the line-up... They were logical decisions we had to make and it was a thought out decision". 

He continued, "we have to forget the last match a bit and recover the run that we had going".

"Our fans are our biggest weapon"

On a personal note, he said "I'm calm for my matches but tomorrow I'll certainly be buzzing... I don't waste my energy on things I can't control but things I can". 

That being the case, the Italian concluded by saying: "What I'm sure of is that we will feel the support of all of the fans during the match and it will be our greatest weapon".