First team

BERIZZO: "I PREFER THESE INCONVENIENCES AND THAT OUR PLAYERS PLAY FOR THEIR INTERNATIONAL SIDES"

08/09/2017
The coach insisted Nzonzi is mentally prepared following the transfer market: "Sometimes these issues arise, but he has understood it's over and he has to play football"

Eduardo Berizzo spoke to the media on the day before his side's clash with Eibar; he started by talking about the lack of internationals in his squad: "They are different cases. Pizarro has come back with a dental problem that needs sorting and is going to be operated on today. Muriel is not back yet and Pareja came back with a niggle - unlike Correa and Kjaer, who will be involved." He recognised the solution is not to stop having internationals: "I prefer to have these inconveniences because I like the players being picked for their international sides. It's necessary to respect and give attention to those who have been here, who have trained and who have done well. Carriço and Franco have recovered and I'm happy with that."

On the controversy surrounding the schedule and the heat, the coach was resigned: "I respond knowing that whatever I say has no impact, but if you want to know my opinion, I can tell you it's very hot at six-thirty in the evening in Sevilla and the game is going to lose rhythm. It won't just affect the players but the fans too, who want a back and forth game. Sometimes the most important people are listened to least when they should be listened to most. I think we're passed the deadline where something can happen because the game wouldn't be played if we weren't, but it is better to play and better to watch football in normal weather conditions."

"Football is better to play in and better to watch in normal weather conditions"

He said Eibar is a dangerous team, and Sevilla will have to know how to react: "When we're up against a team as solid as Eibar, we have to build our attacks with variation, take the ball from one side to another, take chances and don't lose the ball or get pressured by a team who wins the ball back very well when you have your back to goal. We need to go forward with precision and not get involved in a direct game with open spaces that Eibar manage very well."

He also said the international break should have served to improve the team's game: "The biggest thing we can take out is fluidity in our game. It was lacking and we're cutting that out. We have to repeat the dynacism and danger we had in the Champions League play-off. We have to get hold of the ball with more control and use to increase the speed of play."

"We have to repeat the dynacism and danger we had in the Champions League play-off"

With regards to his Champions League squad, he explained his choice to opt for an extra centre-midfielder: "It was smarter to convert Correa, who his an attacking centre-midfielder and has played well in that position, so as not to debilitate the centre of the field, which needs to be strong to suit our style of play. We incorporate another centre-midfielder which gives us solidity and we imagine allows Correa to play as a third number nine. We have enough players on the wing as it is." 

That very piece of the puzzle - Geis - could debut tomorrow: "He's picked in the absence of Pizarro. Though it might be too early in his integration in the team, it is necessary. He's a strong and clever player and against the 4-4-2 of Eibar he could be a solution. The hope is that Pizarro resolves his problem quickly. He's suffered a break in his tooth and his mouth is damaged. He needs a reconstruction." 

"Geis is picked in the absence of Pizarro. It might be too early but it's necessary"

He also touched on Nzonzi, after a summer filled with rumours of his departure: "I'm happy we still have him. Footballers change their mentalities very quickly. Having to consider losing him makes you think again about what he does for the team. He's intelligent and brave for us and as far as I can see he's found tranquility. He's left uncertainty behind and he's focused and enthusiastic. He's going to be fundamental in the future and I've spoken with him before and after the market closed. Sometimes the commercial side of our industry doesn't need to contaminate the technical side. Sometimes these issues interfere but he's understood that's over and he has to play football." 

Finally, he spoke about the Argentinian international side and the mindset of its Sevilla representatives: "I can't and don't want to imagine a World Cup without Argentina. They've come back worried because these qualifications are stressful. It has been historically difficult for Argentina to qualify for the World Cup, but I see them recovering."