Jorge Sampaoli has rubbished claims that he met with the Argentine FA before Sevilla’s game against Valencia on Sunday.
Sampaoli’s future remains the subject of constant speculation, with Sevilla’s form nosediving simultaneously, although the Andalusians returned to winning ways against Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.
“Apparently I’m the Coach of Barcelona, Netherlands, Arsenal,” the Coach said at a Press conference.
“My name is being played with. If [Sevilla] issued a statement every time I was appointed as a Coach of another club, they’d have to do one every week.
“The only person I’ve talked to is the President, who is the only boss that represents me.
“When I have to announce something, I’ll tell him first. I told him this personally on Monday.
“Meeting with the AFA in Valencia? No, not at all. That’s why I believe that paper talk refers to assumptions, not reality.
“I wouldn’t meet with anyone, not even my brother, before a game.”
Sevilla are expected to stick with four at the back and recall Vitolo, who missed the visit of Depor through suspension.
Valencia, meanwhile, have been boosted by Jose Luis Gaya’s return from a thigh injury, which ruled the left-back out of Los Che’s last two games.
Three straight victories have catapulted Voro Gonzalez’s side to within two points of La Liga’s top half, but the trainer admitted his team were in no position to aim higher.
“Due to our situation in the table, [our rivalry] isn’t what it used to be,” he lamented.
“We have other objectives, which are to pick up a fourth straight win and keep our run going at home.
“We’ve drawn one of our last six games. Our objective is smaller than that of Sevilla, who are fourth right now. We can’t aim higher.”
Valencia (probable): Diego Alves; Montoya, Garay, Mangala, Gaya; Enzo, Soler, Parejo; Munir, Zaza, Mina
Injuries/suspensions: Abdennour (I) Rodrigo (I)
Sevilla (probable): Sergio Rico; Mariano, Mercado, Pareja, Escudero; Sarabia, N’Zonzi, Correa, Franco Vazquez; Vitolo, Jovetic
Injuries/suspensions: Krohn-Dehli (I) Kranevitter (S) Nasri (I) Rami (I) Tremoulinas (I)
Referee: Gonzalez Gonzalez
Form guide: Valencia (W W W L D) Sevilla (W L D L D)
Previous meeting: Sevilla 2-1 Valencia
Kick-off time: 15:15 BST/16:15 CET
