Michel: Show Mallorca respect

Michel has warned his Sevilla players that if he were them he would be treating the midweek clash with Mallorca with the utmost respect.

Sevilla ended a five-game winless run in La Liga at the weekend at home to Osasuna, but still head into their Wednesday evening Cup clash with Mallorca under pressure from fans.

Depsite holding a 5-0 advantage from the first leg of this Last 16 Copa del Rey meeting, Michel has made clear that he is taking the game at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan very seriously.

“We cannot think about the first leg result in any way, we are not in a position to disappoint our fans, this is a competitive game,” the Coach told reporters today.

“It is a game where the players will put on the shirt of this club and are at a stage where there is no reason to be distracted. A professional player when playing at a club like this cannot think that one game is greater or less than another.

“There are different reasons for players to motivate themselves, I personally would be motivated if I were a Sevilla player, I would not plan for this game other than to win it and play well. The game deserves respect and we cannot leave anything on the sidelines.”

Michel, who confirmed that Miroslav Stevanovic will play against Mallorca if his transfer clearance is received in time, denied rumours of Ivan Rakitic’s potential sale, before also revealing how Jose Antonio Reyes has come on in training.

“For Rakitic it will have to be an interesting offer because I do not think he will leave, he is totally committed to staying here. He could have gone this summer and instead stayed.

“Reyes? Coincidentally I pulled him aside today to congratulate him. He has completely changed his dynamic, at whatever level, he is working.

“I am seeing him with much more character, with much more intent, like a new player, which we need, and a reference to the others.

“The other day when we were doing poorly he was the first to react and push his teammates. He has made much effort since pre-season, much.

“He has understood that he had to reinvent himself and has spent three months undergoing radical changes.”

Tags Michel Rakitic Reyes
La Liga - Club News