Joaquin ‘can’t wait’ for Sevilla derby

Real Betis captain Joaquin Sanchez says he cannot wait for Saturday’s derby against local rivals Sevilla at the Benito Villamarin.

“These are the matches you want to start right now and I can’t wait because it’s a great derby and you have to enjoy the moment,” he told a Press conference.

“It’s a game where we will need to be mature, intelligent, if we are to repeat the happiness at their ground when we won 5-3. As captain it’s been an overwhelming week and I’ve tried to make my teammates understand what these games mean to Los Beticos.

“You try and get people focused, but always from a positive perspective, and although we’ve had a lot of injuries lately we have never collapsed. The others have responded well and the defeat at Bilbao will not affect us.”

Joaquin was also asked about an incident outside Betis’ ground this week when a home fan was allegedly beaten up by some 15 people wearing red and white hoods and badges.

“It was a sad incident which has no place in football,” he said. “These were people who have no place with the supporters of Betis and Sevilla; in the derby sport must prevail to set an example and this has to be a party.

“The rivalry has to be healthy and, although there will be tension on the pitch, when the match ends it must remain there. We can’t give much publicity to these people and how they portray themselves because they are becoming fewer,” he affirmed.

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