First team

PABLO MACHÍN: "I'VE SEEN THE PLAYERS IN GOOD SHAPE"

05/07/2018

The coach gave his first press conference of the season just after the first training session had finished. He spoke about familiar names and set his sights on the first Europa League fixture

Pablo Machín gave his first impressions of the Sevilla FC squad after his first training session: "We come in with a lot of enthusiasm. Us who live football, when you go three weeks without experiencing it on the field, we miss it. It's what I expect of the players and I saw them in good shape today. As in all teams, suggestions are made for them to come back in the best condition possible and they've generally shown the professionals they are. Today we've touched base, we've talked about what the dynamic is going to be like in training and in the coming days we'll find out more, getting to the fitness level needed for when we do more concrete and demanding work in Benidorm".

On if he will try to adapt his Girona tactics to Sevilla: "I was clear that we have good threads we're going to try and grow. I've come here thanks to a methodology I'm going to try and implement. Analysis has been done for weeks and from today, we've begun to adapt it. The most intelligent thing to do is maintain the idea because I haven't been given any reason to change anything".

"Analysis has been done for weeks and from today, we've begun to adapt a style of play"

On new additions, he admitted to be looking for a specific profile in attack: "I'm aware there are a lot of players who want to come. The collection is wide and we have to choose well. I've talked with the scouting team about the profiles we need and it's clear we're going to look for a striker. A lot of names will be discussed but I won't evaluate them until the scouting team offers me options directly. We're the first team that have put things in motion and hurrying isn't a good guide. I have good footballers and the players that come in are going to complement them with quality. We have to be sure and not rush".

He was also asked about the new Director of Football, Joaquín Caparrós: "Joaquín is a close person and a football fan. He understands and sympathises having been a coach. When we got in contact, as well, it was a very direct relationship without distraction. Now he has a role with more analysis and waiting. Between us all we're going to build a good group and the important thing is to bring in the best players; they're the stars".

As was to be expected, he was asked about Lenglet: "I spoke with him a few days after I signed. There had been rumours of what you all know, which is that he could go. Our stance is that we want him and if he leaves it will be because he wants to and because a Club pays his clause. As long has we have him on the field we'll consider him a member of the squad and I hope he stays. I'm not going to lie, though, it's likely that he'll go. He knows he's grown a lot here and he still has potential and a lot of chances to play. That's my perspective but players should decide what is best for them".

The sole survivor in the World Cup was also on the tongue: "Nzonzi is a great player. If he doesn't tell me he doesn't want to be here, I'll count on him. He's shown me he's very good and we're not going to sit here talking about things that still haven't happened. Unless I speak to him I'll think no different and I hope he can play here a lot because his ability will give us a lot of options". Another name that came up was Jesús Navas, who did not train: "He finished the season with knocks and during the summer he's been doing preventative exercises. He's following a treatment which suggests he's not at 100% but is recovering at the moment. He'll gradually return to the group and we'll slowly reincorporate him so when he comes back there's no risk of a drop".

"Navas has been doing recovery work to make sure he's at 100% when he returns to training"

There's no room for long-term aims: "It would be very easy for me to say that I want to qualify for the Champions League. Although I come from less ambitious teams, the objective is always the same, try and do well in the first match. As we have the Europa League first, the objective is to win that first match and then the rest. I'm clear on the history of the Club but we're not going to try and take three steps before we take the first". The first to come against Spanish opposition will be in the Spanish Supercup: "It's a competition that has a lot of surrounding factors. We're ready for whatever they tell us and tomorrow we'll have more details".

Finally, after assuring everyone Arana had come back in shape to work, he spoke about the academy: "I would like there to be a lot more academy players in the team because it's added value and an extra connection with the fans. But words are one thing and facts are another. They have to show it and I'm open to what they do. I have to be fair and if the academy players who are here are better than other footballers they'll have their chance without a doubt".