DEL NIDO CARRASCO: "THE PLAN TO PROVIDE THE COACH WITH A COMPETITIVE SQUAD IS CLEAR"

José María Del Nido Carrasco spoke to the media as Xavi García Pimienta was unveiled as Sevilla FC Head Coach.

At the press conference, the President stated that "the analysis of the 2023/24 season has to go down as a bad one, the grade would have to be a fail. We have internally assessed the mistakes that were made after our league finish, it was clear to us that we were at the end of the cycle in terms of the project and we're aware of the mistakes, we're working hard to avoid making them. The objectives for next season are to create a long-term project, to continue renewing the sporting project, to put together a competitive squad that the fans can identify with and to lay the foundations for the new Sevilla FC. That must be the first step, continue regenerating the squad in sporting terms in order to start a new cycle with a Sevilla like the one we have always enjoyed - one that aspires to play in Europe, and to compete with enthusiasm and ambition for any title that we play for, but right now we have to take the first step and then create the foundations of a great Sevilla. The key will be the first league game and so on, without jumping several steps because then you're bound to fall."

In terms of putting together the squad, he said that ‘there are two issues at an economic level. One is the budget, as we are not in European competition, and the other is the cash flow after the loan of 107 million euros. As for renewing the squad, the plan to provide the coach with a competitive squad is clear, following the guidelines of the sporting management teams. When Víctor joined Sevilla we had an expensive squad that had played in finals, but last year we had a bad season and we have to update the project. We have reinvented ourselves many times with players who are more unknown and that is our challenge, and we'll also look to the academy. We're convinced that we are going to be able to do this while also knowing that the footballer must also know his future

"We have reinvented ourselves many times and that is our challenge"

Regarding the response from the fans in the last league match, Del Nido Carrasco commented that "I've been here for 17 years and I've seen a lot of things. We've finished ninth twice, the economic situation was also chaotic in 2012/13, I've been President for five months and for me it is a great challenge and I'm very excited. I am in no position to say anything to the fans, I want them to be there alongside Sevilla, not me personally, because when we're all united, we have been able to do great things. We are the ones who have to work hard to make the fans feel proud of their team. It is true that what we experienced at the last match was not pleasant, but I'm focused on renewing the squad, on rebuilding the foundations of a Sevilla that aspires to what it has always aspired to. The fans are supreme, but we are focused on making sure that our supporters are excited, that any jeers go to the Directors' Box and to myself, and support goes to the players, who for me are the best because they wear our crest. As I have said, the tense situation comes from the fact that we aren't getting results on the pitch and that's not pleasant. We have to lay the foundations for a new Sevilla FC that is like the overwhelming majority of our teams in recent years."

The President then discussed the situations regarding Sergio Ramos, Quique Sánchez Flores and Jesús Navas: "Sergio knows publicly and privately what our intentions are. We will have a conversation with him and when it happens, you will know what decision we take. But Sergio deserves Sevilla to wait and vice versa. I will take the opportunity to thank Quique for all the good things he's done. This is not the time to look back, but to look forward with enthusiasm and build a competitive squad. The relationship with Jesús is so great that, the day I gave the press conference, when training finished we agreed within seconds. He wants to retire on 31 December, but I think he has earned the right to decide when he wants to end his professional career. All we can do now is wish him all the luck in the world at EURO 2024."

"Sergio Ramos knows publicly and privately what our intentions are"

Regarding other matters, he was also questioned about the absence of a sponsor on the Sevilla shirt: ‘It's true that if we set a strategy with regard to the main sponsor and we didn't have one, we've made a mistake. We are working on different options, but at the moment there is no sponsor’. He also commented that the details of the season ticket campaign will be announced tomorrow and also spoke about the ‘Fieles de Nervión’ celebration: ‘With regard to Fieles de Nervión, we will be holding the event in the next few days and we are finalising the details’.