Setién: "I hope everything works well and we can give our fans a joy”
Press conference
Quique Setién has addressed the media today at Benito Villamarín Stadium. The gaffer has analysed #ElGranDerbi and the impressive atmosphere lived today in the training, as 13,000 fans have attended to support the team.
13,000 fans in the training: “It was extraordinary. I was already surprised the day we played a friendly against Ecija and I saw the amount of people that came. From the moment I arrived to this city I realised the meaning this game has, all the passion that arises and the huge rivalry existing between these two teams. To feel it, be part of it, is extraordinary. I hope everything works well and we can give our fans a joy. We know what the derby means and we felt it once again today. Hopefully, we can give our fans a victory.”
Javi García and Guardado: “Both of them have been training during the week. Javi had some pain at the end of last week, but he’s overcome it and is ok. We are confident he’ll be able to play, and also Guardado. He’s left the injury behind and has been training for some time now. He’ll be in. Apart from that, there are some small issues, such as Rafa Navarro, who has some problems in his leg. Then, we have two long term injured, Campbell and Sanabria. They have returned this week and have been working aside. They are not ready yet, it will take time, but at least we have them here working.”
Three-game suspension for you: “I take it with resignation. I feel helpless and frustrated because I think is completely out of proportion when we have seen that things much more serious have happened from the benches that what I said the other day. I feel completely helpless but it’s what we have. I have to accept this situation and miss the next three games while I believe I didn’t give reasons to be suspended this way.”
Could the absence of a gaffer in the bench affect the team?: “The players know that I’m not the kind of coach who is constantly giving instructions and orders because sometimes they can’t hear you. At certain moments you may say something to adjust and change things from the bench, but I don’t think it will play at important part because the ones who are going to be in the bench giving instructions know perfectly how we play and what we do. It’s true that sometimes the information can help. I’m sure the ones in the bench will know what to do.”
Rubén Castro: “It’s uncertain how he’ll be. One thing is training and competing is different. Rubén has just trained a few days with us so he won’t be at his best form. We know how he is and how he performs. The main thing is that he knows what he can do well. There other aspects that are important and in which he can also help the team and maybe he needs some more training sessions for that. We’ll see what he can bring to the game. What I can expect is that he gets better training after training and get in better shape because you can feel when you have been some time without training and playing. Training by yourself is fine but you truly get your form back working with the team. That can be crucial at a certain point. We’ll see. He’ll be on the list tomorrow, but we have to decide how much he’ll play, how the game is going and the circumstances around it.”
Several years without winning #ElGranDerbi: “We all know what this game means. Its importance is obvious, it’s not just another game. It’s the derby, this city lives it in a special way and it’s important. I think all the players know that it’s not a regular game and that we have to give something extra. We have to out our hearts on it, and we’ll do, and all our intelligence necessary to beat a great rival. Obviously, accidents can always happen, but I’m sure it will be an even game between two teams that are going to play with their souls and will try to win the game whatever it takes. Betis is going to compete, we are in a good moment. I’ve seen the trainings and I know how much work is behind it. It’s important that the players don’t get carried away, they have to play smart. We have many players in a good moment, I see them well. I expect an even game going in our favour. I don’t have a magic wand to see what is going to happen. I’d like that what each team put on the pitch is later reflected on the score. I expect to make a great game, play good football, beat our rival.”
New manager in the rivals: “We saw them against Cadiz and we also have a knowledge of what the coach did in his previous teams. We have been checking several things to see if we can get some clues of what they’ll do tomorrow. Montella is not Berizzo, but we can more or less guess what they can do, how they are going to play. I don’t know if there will be surprises later. We’ll have to wait until the game starts. I don’t think they will do something extraordinary that will take us by surprise. Montella has his ways and they have worked out since he started. I think he will start faithful to his style. Then, we know all their players and the way they play. They may present some changes, but it will be difficult to surprise one another.”
N’Zonzi: “Sevilla is not just N’Zonzi. They have great players, they have proved it for a long time. He is just another one. Obviously, he is a great player, maybe a top one. We have seen him play and he does many things well. We have to be careful with him, but we can be assessing all their players individually. We depend on ourselves in spite of what the rival does. They are a very good team, but they will probably have some doubts because of the variations a change of manager brings. We have a clear idea of developing our football. We’ll try to have everything under control, but the reality will be what the players do on the pitch, how smart they play, their work rate and their ability to suffer in hard moments. Also, those moments in which you need some luck. What I don’t want is external agents affecting the final score.”
The most special derby in Spanish football: “It is, and I’m just starting to live it. The game hasn’t come, so I haven’t gone through it yet. I’m getting feelings from everything that surrounds me, the players who have experienced it. I spoke to them, and also the people who work at the Club, and the fans I’ve encountered. Everyone in this city supports Sevilla or Betis, nobody follows Real Madrid or Barcelona here. They all have a great feeling for their team and everything is special. There are families in which the husband supports Sevilla and the wife Betis, I’ve met some of them. All that is then translated to the pitch, it’s s hot pot. When you play there or here, it’s something special. It’s something that goes beyond LaLiga with this two teams. It’s the first one for me. I feel a huge responsibility because we know the hopes and expectations our fans have, we’ve seen it today. You want to win not for yourself, but for your fans. It would also mean a huge backing for our idea, earn trust, and continue preparing things for the future. It all has a huge meaning and hopefully we’ll beat a team we haven’t beaten in previous years.”