Sevilla Coach Unai Emery doesn’t believe Athletic Bilbao are in crisis despite a slow start to the season.
Emery takes his team to San Mames on Sunday and told an interview with Mundo Deportivo that not only is Athletic’s situation better than some would lead you to believe, but Sevilla face an Athletic team in their best form of the year.
“Athletic can’t talk of a crisis. They’re on the up and their fans are with them and they’re with their fans,” he said.
“They’re doing well overall. They were a good fourth last year and they’re in the Champions League. They enjoy that at San Mames.
“The game against Napoli was tremendous. What happens is the mental and physical effort causes you to lose focus. It’s not the same as last year as they weren’t in Europe.
“Our bad results in Bilbao tell you something and you have to respect that. Then you have to look at the form of each team and that also says something and has to be respected.
“But what I notice is that it’s sure Athletic are in their best form of the season. We will have to beat the best Athletic of the season.”
Regarding his team, Sevilla could go top of the table with victory and Emery said he hopes they can find what’s needed to win away from home, and insisted there’d be no let-up either.
“Every game is different and we compete with what we need at that moment,” Emery continued.
“Obviously you want to be strong in defence and attack, to have balance without losing out in either and with having strong possession.
“Some opponents require some things and other opponents other things. We will try to be together at San Mames, pressing, attacking the goal and working together.
“Everyone is pleased with the start we have made but there is no end to the motivation to continue and we won’t stop.
“This will be the 10th game and we don’t think beyond that. Real Madrid and Barcelona don’t lose many games. We have to maintain our level.
“So I don’t think we can replicate Atletico Madrid. I just live in the moment.”
