LOPETEGUI: "THE DEMANDS TOMORROW WILL BE EVEN GREATER THAN THOSE AT STAMFORD BRIDGE"

23/10/2020

"I'm expecting a very complicated match, like the one two months ago"

Julen Lopetegui, the Sevilla FC manager, has given his pre-match press conference on the eve of the clash against SD Eibar in LaLiga Matchday 7, the fifth league encounter of the season for the Sevillistas. After his side's final training session, the manager began by highlighting that "the most important competition is LaLiga, every match is a struggle and they are very xomplez. I think Eibar is the team that did us the most damage here last season. We have to prepare well for this opponent, to play well and go to the limit, they will take us to that. That is our aim tomorrow, no doubt about it".

"Lucas was unable to train due to problems, as well as another problem we've had. Tomorrow we'll see what situation we have with the players and we will carefully analyse what we will do, but it is true that we have some difficulties in some positions", he continued, by explaining the situations of some of his players.

"They are very recognisable when they play and they do it in any stadium"

Lopetegui also stated that "I'm expecting a very complicated match, like the one two months ago. When they play, they are very recognisable and they do it in any stadium. They're sure about it, as well as having a manger who knows what he's looking for. The difficulties will be extreme. It will be a very demanding match and we're going to have to be very prepared to give a good response".

The manager then spoke about Koundé and the situation with LaLiga: "I speak to Jules every day. It's frustrating because he feels perfect and he is asymptomatic, so let's hope he can be back with us soon. On the other hand, LaLiga is the one that feeds us - although all the matches are important, hugely important, here your opponents await you after more days of training, and are hugely demanding. This scenario has to demand more from the team".

"Opponents await you after seven days of training and are hugely demanding"

Lopetegui was asked about the Basque opponents, their manager and the two Sevilla loanees who currently play for them: "Mendilibar is a real institution in LaLiga and Spanish football. What he has done has so much merit and he is a worldwide reference for an elite manager. He has all my admiration for how he does everything. Bryan and Pozo are lads who we know well, they're very good footballers and I'm sure they'll get their chance in the future at Sevilla, no doubt about it, but now they will try to defend their team, Eibar".

To finish, the manager highlighted that "tiredness will form part of this type of situation. The demands tomorrow will be even greater than those at Stamford Bridge, on a physical level, and on their concentration and mentality. We trust everyone and the work that we are doing so that we can cope with this rhythm".