GARCÍA PIMIENTA: "WE NEED TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES TO GET THE WIN IN FRONT OF OUR FANS"

Head coach, García Pimienta, spoke to the media at the pre-match press conference ahead of facing Real Valladolid. He started with the feeling ahead of another match: "I'm looking forward to tomorrow's match, the defeat the other day was hard because of how it happened. We have to be focused from minute one. Winning any game is complicated, even more so in a stadium like the one we played in the other day. We have talked about what happened and how to correct it. We know the importance of playing in front of our fans, we are coming off the back of a tough defeat. We are looking forward to playing a good match and for the fans to be with the team again. We want to have the same connection we had against Getafe with our fans and are aware of the responsibility we have in tomorrow's match. In terms of team news, we have Lokonga and Sow out and there are doubts about Navas and Isaac. Isaac's injury initially seemed to be more serious than it turned out to be, but he still has some discomfort. Between now and tomorrow there are 24 hours left and we will wait until tomorrow. Hopefully, he can help us even if it's from the bench, it's a matter of pain, there is no serious injury." 

“I don't rule anyone out if Isaac can't play. If he can't play he won't be included in the squad. We have Kelechi, Peque, Lukebakio, and possible solutions from the reserve team. Tomorrow we will evaluate the possibilities. As I said, Peque can also play up front and so can Lukebakio. Collado will be in the squad. I wanted him to play yesterday with the reserve team, I spoke with Jesús so that he could play as much as he considered. He hadn't trained with the reserve team and it wasn't fair for him to play 90 minutes. The coach of the reserve team has to prepare for his match. He played 45 very good minutes, at an excellent level. 2-0 down his header helped find a way back into the game. The reserve team showed a positive side, especially with the result against them,” he continued.

“We are not going to make excuses with the missing players and tomorrow is a very demanding game at home with our fans”

García Pimienta stressed the importance of getting back to winning ways after the defeat: “Regardless of the result against Alavés, tomorrow's aim was to win. When you've lost, you need to get yourself together. If it's with a win, all the better. We are playing at home and in front of our fans. We're annoyed by the defeat and the way it happened. We left with a worse feeling than in Villarreal or Girona. We worked at a very good level. We're not going to make excuses for the missing players and tomorrow is a very demanding match at home with our fans. We are going to give them commitment and desire to get them fully behind us. We are fully aware of the responsibility of tomorrow's game." 

“If you assure me that by playing differently we will win... depending on the players and the players who are out, we will have an approach. We are not blinding ourselves to one way of playing. We play directly and look for counterattacks. We are not giving up anything. We have to value the fact that Alavés did a great job, that's why it was harder for us to reach the opponent's goal. I want to win and do it in the best possible way, depending on the opposition," he continued.

“We must not let them get dangeorus one-on-one or crossing chances"

The coach also praised the team's defensive play: “It is true that most of the goals come from the left flank, but it is with an organised defense, not in counter-attacking situations. The only goal that we get that way is Villarreal's first goal. It's a defensive issue for the whole team, not the defensive line. It's not a matter of the left back or the left center back. We must not let them get dangerous one-on-one or crossing chances. Naturally, it's something we've seen and discussed with the squad. It's just as important to defend well on the flank as it is to defend inside so as not to let them score. It is an issue that needs to be corrected”.

García Pimeienta also analysed Real Valladolid: “We have analysed our opponent as usual. Against a difficult opponent like Real Sociedad, they knew how to suffer, defend and generate dangerous situations, recovering from injuries. On a competitive level, it was a very good match, it shows that we have to be at our best to win. They are a well-balanced team with very clear ideas. We have to be solid defensively and be patient. We have to be at our best to get the victory in front of our fans." He also focused on Idumbo: “The closeness of the matches means that he is counting on us more. He is a young player, a clear bet for the future. The moment we consider that he is not participating, he has to go down to the reserve team to help and add minutes. This has not happened so far. He is training well and if he does not participate more it is because I consider that another teammate is doing better or because it is better for the team. He has to be important for the first team and for the reserve team,” he said.

 “I am confident that we are a team that generates a lot of chances, the offensive work is being done" 

Another of the aspects he spoke about was the effectiveness in front of goal: “On the one hand, it makes me confident that we are a team that generates many chances, the offensive work is being done. We are on the way to scoring goals. We have to be effective. It is difficult to simulate similar goal situations in training as in matches. Tomorrow's match will be demanding, hopefully, we will be more effective starting tomorrow.” He was also questioned about the physical condition of Jesús Navas, as well as the style of play used against Alavés: “Jesús depends on the day-to-day. He wants to train and play every day, but he starts training and sometimes his hip hurts. He is fit, if he had to play he would be fit. We will evaluate tomorrow if he is available, he is ready. We will also see how long he will be able to play. Against Alavés he was ready for a few minutes. Alavés' pressing was a strength and we wanted to get on the inside. If we are not able to come out with the ball, it's okay to play long balls. What we can't do is make mistakes that condition the ball out. In the second half, we were more involved. We played better. We have to adapt in every match to the opponent." 

"We put aside attitude, we had it. They showed more intensity in individual duels. Sevilla is a great club that aspires to the maximum because the last 20 years prove it. We have to understand the moment we are in and where we want to go. When the game is over, we have to look ourselves in the face knowing that we have given everything. These are things that cannot be controlled. What you can't allow is for the opponent to have more intensity than you. Without aggressiveness or energy, few teams win because of quality,” he explained. 

"To play a good game, play the way we intend to play and make the fans proud of us”

García Pimienta was eager to turn the situation around: “It is true that the defeat is different from the other two because of how we played. One bad game shouldn't change anything. We have talked about what happened in Vitoria, focused on tomorrow's game. We want to play a good game, play the way we want to play and make the fans proud of us. I like perfection, and when we don't win, I'm angry, as we all are. I am convinced that this will go well. If there is something about Alavés they always play like that. It is a long-term project, Luis García's third year with those mechanisms in which people believe. I couldn't tell you why, but in many situations, they were more intense. Sometimes it seems like you have the upper hand, but in two or three actions what happened happened happened. it can't happen again." 

In the final minutes, he was questioned about a refereeing decision that occurred in the duel between Real Madrid and Espanyol in comparison with the one experienced with Saúl in Son Moix: “I understand that the referee did not listen to him, if Saúl was sanctioned for saying what he said, it would have been the same. Badé was coming back from the small injury he had with the national team and he returned to full fitness at the end of the week. Marcao is fine, he has trained for two days and has completed training at one hundred percent, he is ready to play”.

“Everyone, whoever plays up front tomorrow has to do well. Kelechi is a proven player. The other day he had a difficult game because he came on without warming up. Just like the rest, he has to take a step forward because he has the quality to do it at Sevilla,” he concluded.