Alvaro Negredo says he doesn't fear competition from Diego Costa for a place with Spain, as he backs Unai Emery to turns things around at Sevilla.
The Manchester City striker is seen as one of those now in direct competition with Atletico Madrid’s recently-nationalised striker for a place at next summer’s World Cup. Both are named today in Vicente del Bosque's latest squad.
However, the forward, who has netted 10 times from 19 appearances with La Roja, is not fazed by the increased competition.
“I am not preoccupied by it. I have to do my job, he will do his and it is down to the Coach,” considered Negredo about Costa on El Desmarque Radio.
“All our work is so as to be at the World Cup, in this sense, the problem is for the Coach. I have all the respect in the world for Diego, but I do not fear anyone.
“I’m not a starter for Spain. It is very difficult for a No 9 to get into the national team for the debate that there is, and for the good form that a number of the forwards are in.
“Every time I am called up I will try to take my chances and at this moment things are going well.”
Negredo has enjoyed a good start to life in England, having left Sevilla in the summer in a €25m deal.
Considering his former side’s less-than-positive start to La Liga, the 28-year-old had words of encouragement for Coach Unai Emery.
“He has always proved he is a great Coach. The critics will be there, but I believe in him. For me, he is a great Coach and the squad is good enough to move forward with.
“In the Europa League they are doing great, they need confidence, the fans are with the team, there are no hard feelings because it only hurts.
“He is a Coach who does not give the same pep talk for each game. That motivates you because some Coaches you know by heart what they will say.
“All the time that I have spent with him at Almeria and Sevilla, he has never given a talk the same. This shows that he thinks about every game like no other and for that is a privilege.”
