WALTER MONTOYA: "WE ARE THIRD AND WE HAVE TO DEFEND THAT TO THE DEATH"

Walter Montoya is confident that Sevilla FC will end their recent run of poor form and finish the season in a strong position.

Jorge Sampaoli's side have gone four games without a victory, but Montoya believes the side can quickly reverse their fortunes.

Speaking at a schools event at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, the Argentine said: “We have to be alert, to keep on as we have been working. I think that we are going to do well because of what we’ve gone through before.

“In recent games the team hasn’t produced what was hoped for while the rivals played well. I think that we’re training well and fighting hard, I think we’ll finish high up the table.”

The 23-year-old continued: “We’re still third and we have to defend our position to the death and pick up more points. At home we’ve got to make ourselves strong, which is something that cost us in the last game.

“We recover by working and being united. We’re going to go forward and fight until the end… We need to win more at home. We can’t miss these three points.”

On a personal note, Walter assessed his fledgling career with the club to date.

“I am working to be able to play, to have continuity and to connect myself with the group,” he said. “I’m feeling better and better personally and that can only be a good thing, it shows itself on the pitch.

“Having signed in January I wasn’t able to play in the Champions League but I am more than happy here. I don’t get frustrated because I know I haven’t been here long. It isn’t easy coming from another style of football and I’m quite young, I’m adapting and I give my all in training.”

Montoya continued: “I’m eager to kick on; I prefer to be at 100% than at 80%. I would prefer to wait and be at 100%, I have to be at 100% to play. I think that I’ve still got a little way to go in adapting to the football here bu I’m not anxious.”