The Real Betis manager appeared in the press room at the Ramón Sanchez Pizjuán Stadium before the afternoon training session in preparation for tomorrow's match between the top two Sevillian teams. The Argentine coach, who recognized the ambition his team will manifest tomorrow in their search for victory, stated that the two teams are very evenly matched, highlighting that this will give Real Betis the chance to improve on the performance on their last two visits to the stronghold of their eternal rival, Sevilla. 

The memory of the last two visits to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium: “You can't presume anything in football, but we are really pleased to have progressed. That is the beauty of football. If what happened before was bad, this is our chance to put things right. We are enthusiastic, we are confident yet humble enough to continue working as we did in the last couple of matches”.

It is a good moment for Betis: “Every match is different. Statistics can often prove to be right but on other occasions they aren't. We have to keep on in the same way as in recent matches, independently of what the competition is. We have played some really good away matches, So we aim to do the same again”.

In the last two derbies Betis conceded goals very early on: “Since the first match after coming to the Club I have worked very specifically on that. In league matches Betis was conceding an important number of early goals. We have improved that aspect a lot in recent matches. The players, and myself as managers, are aware of the importance the opening minutes have in this type of match”.

Worried about Rakitic?: “Our organisation as a team should be such that we form a strong block, that's the main thing. We carefully study our rivals taking into account their strengths, for example dead ball situations, but first we think about ourselves. We can organise aspects of our own game but we have to control Rakitic and the qualities of the other forwards. But first and foremost we are who we are. Starting from there we control the strengths of our rival”.

Do you think your continuity will depend of the result of this knockout?: “I have never thought about it. If I had to think about things like that I would never have come here. When Betis called me it wasn't to take my personal interests into consideration. That side of it doesn't enter into it for me. We have been working hard to keep putting in performances like in recent matches. We are really happy with what we have done”.

Will there be any surprises in the line-up?: “No, there won't be any special surprises. The team is on form and we want it to continue like that”.

The return to Sánchez Pizjuán: “It has been years since I was last here, but I always go by it when I am in Seville. After so many years in the world of football I am used to being in different stadiums, this is just one more stadium and one more experience. This city really deserves this type of spectacle, there are two truly extraordinary fan bases here. It is a chance for this city to celebrate. I am convinced that the fans of both clubs will know what is expected of them in an event like this”.

Sevilla's weaknesses: “I am not going to point them out. The main thing is that they are not going to make the most of their good points. We have our strengths and we will try to do damage with our qualities. The perfect team doesn't exist. Every match is different. Our preparation has focussed on getting us really strong and being able to find their weaknesses”.

The result: “In my experience after years in football, to get a positive result you have to go out to win, with respect for your rival, but always with ambition. If a team goes out to draw they will lose. I don't like losing. We are going to field a balanced team which will try to score and stop them from scoring”.

Is it better for Betis that the second leg is at Benito Villamarín?: “That depends. You can have different opinions based on the result of the first leg. As things are at the moment there is a 50% chance for both teams”.

Memories of previous derbies: “As a player my best memory is when we beat them with a resounding 3-0 in the King's cup at our stadium. The most vivid memories are of the build-up to the match, the atmosphere in the city and then what comes next depends on the result of the match”.

Training at Sevilla FC's ground: “It's a match just like any other, and as such we shall train at the rival's stadium the day before the match completely normally like always. It's a wonderful opportunity, we will do everything you normally do”.

Will you reserve any players for the Liga?: “As I said before the first leg match against FC Rubin Kazán at home, the next match is always the most important one. After the match the most important one will be the Elche CF match. It is an opportunity that we worked hard to get. We are not going to give it away or change our line-up. At the moment we are not even thinking about Sunday”.