Julen Lopetegui ahead of Sevilla FC-FC Barcelona

LOPETEGUI: 'WE HAVE DONE REALLY WELL IN THE COMPETITION AND WE WANT TO REACH FINAL'

02/03/2021
'Lots of factors are going to decide tomorrow's match, both defensive and offensive ones'

Sevilla FC coach Julen Lopetegui appeared before the media this Tuesday afternoon in the pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's Cup semi-final against FC Barcelona. Lopetegui began by saying 'there's not one sole thing that will decide tomorrow, it will be a variety of factors. It will be a hugely demanding match and that forces you to be at 100% in every aspect - defensively and offensively. We have to play perfectly to beat them and we will be travelling with that motivation and excitement.

'I only want to speak about football. If the four best teams get to the semi-finals, I assume it is the same case with the referees. I'm sure it's down to their ability and I have full confidence in them. We trust their good intentions and professionalism and that helps them grow in their careers,' Lopetegui responded when asked about the current refereeing situation.

'The team is full of ambition and motivation, just like any other that is fighting for a place in a final'

Asked whether he will be able to welcome any players back, Julen said 'the entire team will travel to Barcelona and we will decide there what the best eleven for the match is. Everyone has to be available at every moment. We have done really well in the competition so far and we want to achieve our objective of reaching the final.

'The team is motivated for tomorrow. We aren't thinking about previous matches, only in tomorrow's. We have to play at our absolute best with and without the ball. We want to control the game and that is what we are prepared for and wanting to do tomorrow. This game will be completely different to the other two. Football is like that and it will always be like that. That's our mentality - we don't look to the past to help us.'

'We must be focused and have the right mentality, we need to find the answer to everything they throw at us'

To finish, Lopetegui said 'the build-up to such a game is always exciting but we have to come into it with the right mindset. We've earned the right with our performances to want to play the final and that will be our intention tomorrow. We must be focused and have the right mentality. The team must find the answer to everything they throw at us tomorrow.'