First team

ROQUE MESA: “I FELT THE CONFIDENCE CAPARRÓS HAD IN ME FROM DAY ONE”

24/05/2018

Appearing on SFC TV the Canarian player "I was ready for when my moment arrived, it came late, but better late than never"

Roque Mesa was this Thursday's special guest on A Balón Parado. The Canarian player's life changed following the arrival of Joaquín Caparrós in the Sevilla FC dugout: "It's how football is, a new coach arrives and in the first few days you can already notice differences, you feel the confidence that they have in you, it's the little things, but they don't go unnoticed. When he arrived at the first training session he introduced himself to the side, and I noticed the engagement he had with the players already. Just a day later we were talking about Valerón. They are small details but they helped me notice the confidence he had in me and how much he cared. I am happy that Caparrós is now going to play an important role at the Club".

With Caparrós' arrival, Roque Mesa saw the light at the end of the tunnel following a tough run: "It's been difficult since I arrived, I wasn't playing, days went by, months went by, things just weren't looking good. It was eating me up, I was analysing everything, I was searching for my own explanations, sometimes I'd find them, other times I wouldn't. I kept working, I took care of myself, dietary wise and physically. I have always been one of those people who believe that you will get what you deserve from your work. The coach arrived and he gave me an opportunity, I was ready for when the moment presented itself, it came later than anticipated, but it came".

For the Canarian, it was fundamental to feel the support of the fans every step of the way: "Despite not playing, people were great with me when I stepped out into the street. When I came to the stadium I felt a huge sense of love from the fans, they told me that it wasn't out, they reminded me that I was going to be important and that encourages you".

“Although I was playing, I always felt the support from the fans”

He also spoke about his return to the starting squad for the first match under the leadership Caparrós: "The match against Real Sociedad was special, something similar to a debut. Warming up you're already nervous about starting well. Before going out, he told me that I had nothing to prove, not to him or to anyone else. He reminded that they already knew I was good enough. It took a huge weight off of my shoulders".

Speaking about his future, he was asked if the match against Alavés was his goodbye "I hope not. They know what I want and I have spoken with the Chairman who has told me they're onto it. With Montella, it was not viable for him to remain at the Club".

Talking about the Italian coach he commented "He only asked me once if I was physically sound and I told him I was, I let him know that I was ready. On arrival, Caparrós asked for a physical analysis of the whole squad and all of us were at our optimum level, it was a question of mentality".