ÁLVARO FERLLO: "IT'S GREAT TO BE PLAYING IN GOAL BECAUSE I CAME HERE TO HELP THE TEAM"

Álvaro Ferllo was on media duty, speaking during Wednesday's press conference.

The goalkeeper discussed his debut for the club: ‘On a personal level, I'm feeling good, I'm growing, as is the team. I'm happy to be in goal because that's what I came here for, to help the team. I have the opportunity and I'm going to try to make the most of it and stay until the end of the season. It was very special to make my debut for Sevilla against Espanyol, on familiar turf. It's true that I heard whistles and insults from the fans of my old team, but not all of them because most of the fans respect the work I did there. What a few people do doesn't taint how I feel about them as a group and I'm proud of the work I did.'

He also spoke about the tragic flooding in Valencia: ‘Personally, I think that football is the least important thing and no match should have been played last weekend, not just the ones that affect their teams. We all have to turn our attention to them, to ensure that the focus should be on helping the victims. It could easily have been suffering and losing family members. We send them lots of support, and we hope that we don't have to play so that we can go to Valencia to help in whatever way is necessary.’

Changing the subject, he spoke of the importance of the Copa del Rey: ‘This year, without playing in Europe, the Cup is even more important for us. We are one of the main competitors, a big club on a national and European level, so we are conscious of going through the rounds, as we did the other day. For our opponents, these are arguably their main games of the season, but we didn't let the magnitude of the occasion for them affect us the other day. Let's see the next opponent because we have to aim to go far. We're playing in two competitions and they're both really important to us.'

‘In the Copa del Rey we have to aspire to go far’.

Now comes the trip to face Leganés, a team that is scoring plenty of goals: ‘We have already prepared with the goalkeeping coach. We saw the game against Girona in which they lost but scored three goals. Juan Cruz is their most important player right now and we goalkeepers have to be well positioned, especially with our legs, to be able to push and move. They are quality players who put balls in the corner and we know that they are vertical, play direct and look for the second ball. We've analysed it, studied it and we'll continue to work on it until Saturday.’

Although he is looking ahead, he acknowledges that last Sunday's defeat hurt: ‘We're a little bit angry because it was a game in which things didn't work out, neither in terms of pressing, defending or attacking. It was a dull game for all of us against a great opponent, because they did well, but when you lose and you're beaten like that, what you want is for the next game to come soon to win and pick up three points. We've had a great training session today, and the players are eager ahead of Saturday's game’.

Álvaro also spoke about the importance of mentality: ‘I always say that we footballers show a small part of what we do every day. There is gym work, mental work... This year I'm lucky enough to also be able to work with the team coach, so that's another tool for dialogue and correction. It is very useful nowadays to face your fears and grow as a footballer and as a person. I know that I have to be psychologically prepared for the pressure and the demands and to face the best’.

‘I'm surprised that a legend like Navas is still hungry to continue helping like he does’.

On how he's adapted to the city and the club, he assures that he 'was already lucky enough to know the city. Five years ago I played for Extremadura and it's very close to here. Now in these three months I've been able to get to know more, I see very healthy and outgoing people, proud to be from here and proud of their team. That's what sticks with me, and that's why I try to give back. Nevertheless, I am still an outsider and it is difficult for me to adapt, but we have a great dressing room with people from many cultures. We have created a very good nucleus and the group is one of the best I've ever been part of. We are young and we are growing.’

For a goalkeeper who hasn't been playing, he admits it's difficult to prove himself, but said he has always remained calm: ‘Obviously it's an opportunity, but I was very calm with myself because I was doing good training sessions and they made me see it that way. I know that this is valued. When the starter does well, the one who doesn't play can't show it on the pitch, but the training sessions count. Now that I have the opportunity on the pitch, I can show that I can be here for many years’.

Finally, the obligatory question about Jesús Navas: ‘It's all very emotional and sentimental because we know he's leaving football in January. These are his last months and his last training sessions. I'm surprised that a legend like him still has the hunger to continue participating and helping in the way he does. When his hip allows him to, he is the one leading the line first to go, to demand and to demonstrate. At 39 years of age, the fact that he has that kind of enthusiasm makes his greatness even greater. I've said it to him in person, but I'm proud to be able to share a dressing room with the player with the most titles in the national team. I hope that when he retires he'll still be linked to us because he's someone we love, he's the leader. It would help us a lot if he continued to instil the values of the club.’