Jorge Sampaoli has warned Sevilla that Monday’s clash with Alaves “is a chance we have to take” for their La Liga title tilt.
Barcelona and Real Madrid both won at the weekend, meaning Sevilla must beat Alaves if they are to stay firmly in the title mix, but Sampaoli insists the Andalusians must only focus on winning their own games.
“Beyond the novelty of playing on Mondays, it doesn’t change our need to win because the teams above us keep winning,” the Coach said at a Press conference.
“We’re expectant. The needs are spatially different but equal in terms of what one needs.
“More important than the results of our rivals that have already played, our obligation is always to win.
“We’ll be playing at a complex venue against difficult opponents, but it’s a chance we have to take.
“We’ll look for different characteristics in the absence of a player like Samir [Nasri]. We’re looking for the possibility that his absence will allow us to attack.
“Franco Vazquez? For our sake, we need him to be at his best for the remainder of the season.
“Hopefully we’ll have him back at a good level in order for us to have better chances [of success].
“It’s difficult for us to have such compelling rivals that have players with such good quality.
“Still, it should be noted that, given we’ve been near them for so long, it means we’re a team that have value and I hope we can keep it up.
“Missed penalties? “We always take them [in training], they’re things that players train individually, but the game situation generates extra pressure.
“Messi’s performance against Celta and his ‘phone call’ gesture? No, it wasn’t directed at me.
“When Messi is stimulated, he can do what he wants. He’s so decisive and different that he makes these differences.
“Leicester? They’ve changed in an emotional sense, which makes the game demanding, but before that, we have two big games in the League.
“We’ll evaluate everything, not only Leicester, but also our opponents before then.”
