Joaquín Sánchez has addressed the media today at Luis del Sol Training Centre three days before #ElGranDerbi.

How’s the atmosphere in the dressing room?: “It’s obvious that these are the games everyone expects. These games are lived with a huge emotion and intensity. It’s the greatest derby. We’ll try to enjoy it because of our moment and because we play at home and we want to give the fans a victory against our fiercest rivals and make a party for ourselves.”

Clashes between fans: “We don’t understand it. We, the players are the first who should set an example. Sevilla players and we always say it very clear: sport has to be above everything else. It’s a beautiful rivalry and it’s good to have it, but always with sportsmanship. There will be tension on the pitch and it will be a beautiful match, they are always special games, but when it ends, whatever happens, it must stay there and the fans should enjoy. We shouldn’t pay much attention to those who make this kind of things, they expose themselves. Fortunately, they are fewer and fewer and we have to try exactly that, to make these people not stain our sport and make this party that is the Seville derby what it is, a celebration.”

Would you forbid the away fans to attend the match?: “I’m not the one to have a say about that. In the same way we like to have our fans when we play in their stadium, I guess they feel the same way. The police will take all the measures and control everything so the fans can enjoy these games. It has been this way for many years, in spite of four fools who don’t know how to live this with sportsmanship and in a healthy way. I’m no one to determine whether that is good.”

Are you having trouble to win the latest games due to the pressure?: “Not at all. It’s really hard to win games. We took a huge step forward in the second round. Apart from having suffered, we have won many games because the team has grown and learnt how to suffer and have the character we had in many games. We had a run of six wins and one defeat in the last seven games. The balance is quite positive and that’s the line we have to keep. The team, in the second round, has taken a step forward regarding the philosophy. We have grown a lot and that makes the rivals motivate even more when they play against us. They know you better and study you more. At this stage, they have studied you and that makes winning harder, but the team has matured in that sense and we have won where not many teams have done so.”

Will this be the most spectacular derby in recent years?: “It’s going to be a beautiful derby because both teams are quite even at this moment, we have been at the top part of the table during the season. Also, because of our momentum and the stage of the season, there isn’t much for the end of the season. We want to finish with the reward of winning the derby at home and bring some joy to the fans. We know it will be game that we have to work, be smart and know how to control it. We have shown personality at home to control the games and adapt them to our style. I’m going to enjoy it a lot because of the moment and because we play at home. The excitement must be just to win it, it will be huge for us because of what it means. We experienced it in the first round and we want to repeat it now.”

Caparrós will be in Sevilla’s bench many years later: “They are different situations. He’ll be out and I’ll be in. It doesn’t matter if Caparrós is there. As I said, once the referee whistles everything else don’t matter and the players are the ones who have to work. We all know Caparrós but we’ll be as motivated as he is because we are at home and finishing the season winning the derby in front of our fans has to be the perfect ending to a very positive season.”

Is it possible to repeat a score like in the first round?: “We could ask for many things but these games are not easy because there is a lot of tension, you have to be focused and don0t make mistakes. Scoring many goals in a derby is really difficult. I’m happy with a win, it would mean ending the season in a wonderful way.”

Pep talk before the game: “I usually improvise, so I’m running out of resources -laughter. At this point I don’t know what to say or maybe I repeat myself, but for this game I don’t need to get the lads on after the previous derby as they know what it means. Whether we win or lose, I insist: we have to enjoy this game because we deserve it. We are going to play with the same concentration to win and establish ourselves in the fifth place, which is all we want and what we fought for in the second round.”