New Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has claimed he is at the ‘best team in the city’ as an apparent swipe at rivals Real Betis.
The former Spain and Real Madrid boss was appointed at the Andalusian club on Tuesday having previously been linked to the Betis job this summer.
“I'm at the best team in Sevilla and at the big one, with all the respect to the rest of the teams,” Lopetegui said, as cited by Marca
“I have come here for many reasons, the first because I come to a big, ambitious team that showed me that they want to continue growing and I want to help that project.
“Now we have to build that dream and shape it. There is a big history to this club, the people who are in it have made me have no doubt about being here.
“My idea is to get the most out of each player, be able to play football well, to be ambitious, face matches away and at home in the same way.
“The ultimate goal is to win games so that we take as far as possible, for me the drawing is not so important but the style.”
Lopetegui has been out of work since being dismissed by Madrid at the end of October following a 5-1 El Clasico loss against Barcelona – leaving the club languishing in ninth place in La Liga after ten matches.
Lopetegui’s appointment at the outgoing European champions came in acrimonious circumstances, coming on the eve of the World Cup, where he was set to manage the Spanish national team, last summer.
The Spanish FA took the decision to dismiss Lopetegui two days before their opener against Portugal, after his appointment by Madrid was announced without their knowledge.
Last month, Lopetegui was linked by El Mundo Deportivo with taking over the Bayern Munich job this summer from Niko Kovac.
Former Roma boss Eusebio Di Franscesco had also been linked to Sevilla, with Joaquin Caparros confirmed as not continuing in the role next season.
