Sevilla sporting director Monchi says the club will fail if they deviate from the strategy that has led to consecutive Europa League successes.
Monchi has been in his position for 15 years and marked his longevity with an interview in AS, discussing Sevilla’s business plan and the importance of keeping Unai Emery.
“The other day someone congratulated me for winning and for a few seconds I didn’t know what he meant. It’s been the fastest, noisiest transition for years,” he said.
“There was a day of celebrating and the next we were working on renewing Unai’s contract. That was very important. I could use grandiloquent adjectives but to me it is fundamental.
“Ideally we’ll have a squad that can compete. We need a plan and we need to have patience, which isn’t the same as slowness, but it is doing things without rushing, because we know what we want.
“Sevilla made a mistake when they left that path. Our transfer fees aren’t very high, but are players are very well paid. People need to know that the money is on the pitch, actually on the pitch, which isn’t the case at other clubs.
“Having the players we do can be achieved because we don't pay a lot for them. We’ll keep doing the same this summer. Don’t expect big fees, not €10m or €12m. We won’t go down that road.
“Unai and I speak three or four times a day. He contributes with players he knows, but he doesn’t tell me who to sign. That’s how it’s been since his arrival.
“We decided we wanted Ever Banega early last summer but didn’t get him until the end. We decided on him because we saw he played at his best under Emery. Unai is very important in Ever’s performances but the player has a lot to do with it too.
“Banega isn’t a discovery, he’s a top level player. Unai said he was Barcelona level. He’s a Mercedes.
“I’m not worried [about Carlos Bacca, a Roma target or Grzegorz Krychowiak]. Bacca is happy with Sevilla and in Seville. Krychowiak has a defined strategy and no interest in leaving Sevilla.
“We’ve had no formal offers but we’ve heard from lots of agents. I don’t consider than an offer. An offer is formal from a club.”
Monchi was asked directly about two mooted incomings, Milan’s former Valencia defender Adil Rami and Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, of Dnipro.
“Rami is a top defender. Will he come? It’s complicated. But isn’t it true we sometimes like to complicate life?
“Konoplyanka has a lot of urban legend to him. It’s not an easy move, there are a lot of ties to bind and when you tie one, another one breaks loose. But we’re there, fighting for a player wanted throughout Europe. I don’t know when we might close the deal as it is very complex.”
