MENDILIBAR: "I HAVE ENJOYED FOOTBALL SINCE COMING TO SEVILLA AND I HOPE THAT IT ENDS THIS WAY TOO"

José Luis Mendilibar spoke at the press conference to preview the final of the UEFA Europa League against AS Roma. As he assessed the match tomorrow in what was to be a fairly extensive press conference, the Sevilla coach said that "when I arrived here the club had already passed through the elimination stages, so getting here is not only down to me. With the history of this club in this competition, let's not lie, this club has been the best team in this competition in the last 20 years. The truth is that when you get here people don't lower their expectations, it wasn't just about staying up because getting to Budapest was still a possibility. We have been clinical against two great teams, and that's why we are here. Tomorrow we will have a different match, but we will try to win with what we have at our disposal."

On the match that awaits, he highlighted that "one side will win but both teams deserve to be in the final, and I hope the scales will tilt in our favour. I don't know what could be a more important match than this one, it's my first time, but in these moments predictions and what people say doesn't matter. It's about being accurate and making as little errors as possible." 

Precisely on how it's his first time and with regard to the praise of his opposing coach in the prior press conference, he said that "I am grateful to Mourinho for his kind words, but as he has said, history doesn't win football matches and flattering remarks don't either. We are going to be up against a tough side, and whoever makes the fewest errors will reign supreme. We know how we want to play, so will they and we are not going to change."

"I try to ensure my players are as calm as possible and so get the best out of them"

He was also asked about his future, but he is focused on the present: "The future doesn't bother me, I signed for two and a half months. If it had mattered to me I would have insisted on having a longer contract, but I wasn't employed before I got here. I will try to win tomorrow and hopefully we will finish LaLiga in the best way possible in Anoeta."

At the same time, Mendilibar indicated that he doesn't have favourites, but wants to see the best of all of his players: "It doesn't mean anything to me that we are favourites, I don't think about that. I don't put importance on it, there will always be betting odds, but they don't dictate who is going to win and who will lose. I try to ensure my players are as calm as possible and so get the best out of them. I hope nothing happens in training, and if that is the case, then I have already made up my mind. From the last league outing it was clear."

With regard to our opponent and the type of match that is coming up, "Roma are a strong defensive side, who don't need many chances to score and win. We have centred our attention on getting to their box and they feel comfortable defending their area, and then if they have to put pressure on us, they will do, and with pace. It's a difficult team to play against, but we have to be relaxed when playing."

As well as mentioning how he personally needs to be relaxed, he spoke about the opponent once again: "I think that it will be different. Manchester was not like Juventus ands I don't think they will be like Roma. They are three strong teams, but they are different. We have the same armoury that tries to defeat them, being relaxed defensively and then looking for chances in attack."

"They feel comfortable defending their area, and then if they have to put pressure on us, they will do, and with pace"

Developing on how he feels personally, he recognised that he is in a very happy period of his life "I have been enjoying football since I came to Sevilla and I hope that it will end this way, enjoying it. I go out onto the pitch thinking we have options to win and that is the most important thing. There are times you are a bit more fearful, but now I go out just focused on winning."

To close, returning to the theme of his future, he spoke about some parallels: "I don't think tomorrow will be important for my future. We will change things like a journalist changes his match report if one side concedes or scores a goal."