Unai Emery has promised former side Valencia a Sevilla team prepared to fight ‘tooth and nail’ to defend ninth place in the League.
Although unable to finish any higher, Los Nervionenses have the incentive of holding position on the final day of the season with ninth possibly being enough to qualify for the Europa League.
Getafe in 10th and Levante in 11th are also in contention for the position, which would be a qualification post if both Malaga and Rayo Vallecano are unsuccessful with respective appeals to play in Europe next year.
“The game is interspersed with feelings and emotions but we have to focus on realities,” commented Emery, who also sees the game as a reunion with his former club.
“It is not the same to finish with a good image or a bad one, winning or not, finishing ninth or not. This reality is crucial. It is the thing we have noted a lot in preparations this week. At our stadium we have a high level, marked by two defeats that were unfair because we did not deserve to lose. These losses have raised doubts and seen us question ourselves.
“We wanted seventh and even sixth place, but that could not be. Now Getafe and Levante are speaking of ninth as a new option to get into Europe. We are in that position, we have to defend it tooth and nail. We will not be fools to defend ninth.”
The game marks Andres Palop’s final match at Sevilla, but it may come from the bench.
“When I came here Palop was in contention as a starter. I never considered that he had no chance to play.
“If Palop plays, it is because he has deserved it, and there is that possibility. But the best farewell is a win, and the best will be on the pitch. The best conditions to win the game.”
