Sevilla midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes has asked for patience as he bids to rediscover his top form at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
The former Arsenal and Atletico Madrid man has played just 155 minutes this season after injuring a shoulder against Granada, and admits the Sevilla supporters are yet to see the best of him.
Reyes returned to the club where he started his career 10 months ago and told Sevilla’s TV station that with time he will eventually live up to expectations.
“When I was with Atletico I started the same. I was not putting in the performances and not doing what they asked of me.
“Nevertheless, I managed to turn the situation around and I had some great years there, winning two trophies, which is what I want to accomplish with Sevilla.”
The 29-year-old is well aware there have been some murmurings of discontent among fans and local media, who are still waiting to see the player who left for England in 2004, but Reyes is confident they will not have to hang around much longer.
“I’m very competitive and I want to succeed both for my own people and the Sevilla fans, but mainly for the club President who has placed so much faith in me.”
He also spoke about the dismissal of Gary Medel against Barcelona two weeks ago, the Chilean sent off for an apparent head butt on Cesc Fabregas, and Reyes put a slightly different slant on things.
“Cesc admitted to me afterwards that Medel had not touched him. At the time they were losing the game but these things happen in football.”
Asked if current Sevilla boss Michel had anything in common with his former coaches at Atletico Madrid, Quique Sanchez Flores and Gregorio Manzano, Reyes was surprisingly forthright.
“Michel is more like Quique than Manzano, that’s for sure. Quique gave me much more freedom so I played to a much higher level.
“Like Quique, Michel is always on at me, encouraging me, and I have to return that confidence with what I do out on the pitch.”
