First team

NOLITO: "WE HAVE TO SHAPE UP BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFICULT GAMES COMING"

07/11/2017
The forward assured the press "we're all very demanding in this squad", asked them to respect injuries and said he wanted more goals in a bid to boost morale

Nolito spoke to the press after visiting Sevilla FC's rowing team before the Sevilla-Betis regatta. The forward wanted to give an optimistic message for the future and emphasised the squad's ambition: "We're all demanding in this squad and we have to improve a lot. I think we've had matches where we've done well and haven't won and others which we have won and not played so well in. We all have to shape up because we have difficult games coming against Celta, Madrid, Villarreal and Liverpool... And we have to move forward to achieve our La Liga and Champions League objectives," he said. 

He also said that against Barcelona, the team "played a great match and was unlucky to lose. When we were better Barcelona scored their second goal. Now there's an international break and we have to fix the mistakes we have, but Sevilla should be proud of the game we played against a big opponent. It's never easy to play at the Camp Nou against Barcelona. In the second half Sevilla got one back and took several steps forward, we tried to score a second but it wasn't to be. But there's a lot still left for us, we have seven months of La Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and we're going to give everything in all of them". 

"I need a goal to give me a boost"

The player added that Sevilla FC's performance is not dependent on whether they play at home or away. "I don't think that there is a Sevilla at home and an away Sevilla. Each time we play we get better, we didn't play badly against Barcelona and against Bilbao we didn't deserve to lose. We'll see if we are able to win more matches and if we can play well, or better still, better. It's very physically demanding. The match against Barcelona wasn't a disaster, we only lost 2-1 and played well in a tough match". 

Speaking about his personal performance, he wished for continuity and a little bit of luck in front of the goal: "We'll see if luck is on my side with regards to finding the back of the net. I need a goal to give me a boost. I'll see how my injuries treat me to see if I am available for the coach. It's a long process and the most important thing is to be back on track so that I am ready when given the opportunity". 

"We have to watch out for everyone. Not only the teams that are hard to beat, such as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid…"

Nolito also spoke positively about Eduardo Berizzo. "I know the coach. He had different players at Celta than he does here. He is doing a good job here, it's not easy to come to Sevilla with so many new players and have the same philosophy". 

Finally, asked about Lenglet and the possible interest of FC Barcelona in the centre-back, he said "he's a very good footballer and I want to have him in my team, if they want him they'll have to ask the Chairman. He shouldn't envy any Barcelona player, he's great here, he's young and he's growing a lot".