Real Betis manager Gabriel Calderón believes his team is more than well prepared, hopeful of continuing their recent upturn in form, as they head to contest a very special Europa League derby against Sevilla, at the Sánchez-Pizjuan on Thursday.
The first question posed to Gabriel Calderón, at his Europa League preview press conference on Wednesday, was regarding how important Real Betis having convincingly lost their last two visits to the Sánchez-Pizjuán against Sevilla, will be ahead of Thursday’s derby meeting.
“You never know what will happen in football, but we’re happy to be playing this tie. It’s one of the most beautiful things in football. If things went badly in the past, this is the ideal opportunity for us to change that. We’re going into the game with enthusiasm, confidence and humility, to keep working the way we have been in our recent games.”
Rather than look at statistics, or past results against Sevilla, Calderón preferred to focus on the good form his team are showing at the moment.
“Every game is different. The statistics sometimes look justifiable, others they don’t. We have to keep going the way we have recently, whatever the competition. We’re coming into this on the back of very good away performances, so our aim is to do more of the same.”
Conceding early goals against Sevilla, is something that has set the marker for the last two derby games. Beyond that however, Calderón pointed out it’s something they’ve been working on, which he was well aware of when he first arrived at Betis.
“This is something I’ve been working particularly on, since I came here. In La Liga, Betis had been conceding a high average of goals, very quickly into games. We’ve improved this aspect a great deal in our recent games. The players and myself, we’re very much aware of the importance of the opening moments in games like this.”
Asked if there’s any particular fear of Sevilla playmaker Ivan Rakitic, given his excellent form this season, Calderón outlined that his team must focus on their own performance first, then look to nullify the threats of their opponents.
“We must be organised in such a way that we’re strong ourselves, that’s what matters the most. We’ve studied our opponents and have taken their strong points into account, such as at set-pieces, but we’ve been focused primarily on ourselves. We can organise ourselves well, but we also have to control Rakitic, or the qualities of their forwards. Fundamental though, is ourselves and from there, controlling the strengths of our opponent.”
With that in mind, Calderón was then asked if there are any particular weak points he’s identified in the Sevilla team.
“It’s not something necessary to point out. What matters is that we don’t permit them to make the most of their positive points. We have strong points too and we’ll be trying to cause them damage with our own qualities. There’s no such thing as a perfect team. Every game is different. We’ve prepared well so that we’re very strong and can exploit any weakness they show.”
Whilst suggestions are that Calderón will stay at Betis, whether they’re playing their football in the Primera or the Segunda next season, he was asked if he fears that could change, if he fails to steer his team to positive performances in the two Europa League games against Sevilla.
“I’ve never even thought about that. If that was something I had to think about, I’d never have come here in the first place. When Betis called me, I wasn’t thinking about my personal interests. That’s not what I had in mind. We’re working hard to offer the image we’ve shown of ourselves recently, which we’re very happy with.”
The Real Betis manager only has eyes for victory, when asked if a draw in the first-leg would be a positive result for his team.
“With the experience of all my years in football, to take a positive result, we have to go out there to win, with respect for our opponent, but always with ambition. Whoever goes out there to draw, loses… and I don’t like losing. We’ll be setting out a balanced team, with the intention of scoring and not conceding.”
Asked to ponder if playing the second-leg at the Benito Villamarín could be seen as an advantage, Calderón suggested that it’s irrelevant until after Thursday’s game.
“It’s all relative at this stage. We can perhaps give thoughts when the game on Thursday has finished. Right now it’s a fifty-fifty tie for either of the two teams.
Though there’s the benefit that a derby in the Europa League means no long-distance travelling is involved, Real Betis still have an important game in La Liga the following Sunday, with little time to prepare after Thursday’s game at Sevilla. Calderón was asked if he’ll be holding any players back, with focus on La Liga.
“As I said at the game against Rubin Kazan at home, the next match is always the most important. After Thursday, the most important game for us is against Elche. It’s an opportunity to take points that will need a lot of hard work to achieve. We’re not going to make alterations or change our line of work. Right now, we’re not even thinking about Sunday’s game.”
Having experienced the Sevillano derby numerous times during his playing days for Betis, this will be his first as manager. As such, Calderón was asked for his thoughts about returning to the Sánchez-Pizjuan home of city rivals Sevilla.
“It’s been many years since I’ve been there, but I was always there when I played for Betis. I’m so used to visiting so many stadiums over so many years in football, that this is just one more stadium, one more experience. This city deserves spectacles like this, there’s two extraordinary groups of fans. It’s an opportunity for the city to celebrate. I’m convinced that the fans in this city, are up to the standards of an event such as this.”
Finally and having spoken about what the derby means for the fans, that’s what forms the strongest of his memories from his playing days, when it comes to Sevilla-Betis derby games.
“On the pitch, my best memory was when we beat them a comfortable 3-0 in the Copa del Rey, at the Benito Villamarín. The most important memory though, is the week ahead of the games, the atmosphere of the city, followed by what comes after the result.”
The first question posed to Gabriel Calderón, at his Europa League preview press conference on Wednesday, was regarding how important Real Betis having convincingly lost their last two visits to the Sánchez-Pizjuán against Sevilla, will be ahead of Thursday’s derby meeting.
“You never know what will happen in football, but we’re happy to be playing this tie. It’s one of the most beautiful things in football. If things went badly in the past, this is the ideal opportunity for us to change that. We’re going into the game with enthusiasm, confidence and humility, to keep working the way we have been in our recent games.”
Rather than look at statistics, or past results against Sevilla, Calderón preferred to focus on the good form his team are showing at the moment.
“Every game is different. The statistics sometimes look justifiable, others they don’t. We have to keep going the way we have recently, whatever the competition. We’re coming into this on the back of very good away performances, so our aim is to do more of the same.”
Conceding early goals against Sevilla, is something that has set the marker for the last two derby games. Beyond that however, Calderón pointed out it’s something they’ve been working on, which he was well aware of when he first arrived at Betis.
“This is something I’ve been working particularly on, since I came here. In La Liga, Betis had been conceding a high average of goals, very quickly into games. We’ve improved this aspect a great deal in our recent games. The players and myself, we’re very much aware of the importance of the opening moments in games like this.”
Asked if there’s any particular fear of Sevilla playmaker Ivan Rakitic, given his excellent form this season, Calderón outlined that his team must focus on their own performance first, then look to nullify the threats of their opponents.
“We must be organised in such a way that we’re strong ourselves, that’s what matters the most. We’ve studied our opponents and have taken their strong points into account, such as at set-pieces, but we’ve been focused primarily on ourselves. We can organise ourselves well, but we also have to control Rakitic, or the qualities of their forwards. Fundamental though, is ourselves and from there, controlling the strengths of our opponent.”
With that in mind, Calderón was then asked if there are any particular weak points he’s identified in the Sevilla team.
“It’s not something necessary to point out. What matters is that we don’t permit them to make the most of their positive points. We have strong points too and we’ll be trying to cause them damage with our own qualities. There’s no such thing as a perfect team. Every game is different. We’ve prepared well so that we’re very strong and can exploit any weakness they show.”
Whilst suggestions are that Calderón will stay at Betis, whether they’re playing their football in the Primera or the Segunda next season, he was asked if he fears that could change, if he fails to steer his team to positive performances in the two Europa League games against Sevilla.
“I’ve never even thought about that. If that was something I had to think about, I’d never have come here in the first place. When Betis called me, I wasn’t thinking about my personal interests. That’s not what I had in mind. We’re working hard to offer the image we’ve shown of ourselves recently, which we’re very happy with.”
The Real Betis manager only has eyes for victory, when asked if a draw in the first-leg would be a positive result for his team.
“With the experience of all my years in football, to take a positive result, we have to go out there to win, with respect for our opponent, but always with ambition. Whoever goes out there to draw, loses… and I don’t like losing. We’ll be setting out a balanced team, with the intention of scoring and not conceding.”
Asked to ponder if playing the second-leg at the Benito Villamarín could be seen as an advantage, Calderón suggested that it’s irrelevant until after Thursday’s game.
“It’s all relative at this stage. We can perhaps give thoughts when the game on Thursday has finished. Right now it’s a fifty-fifty tie for either of the two teams.
Though there’s the benefit that a derby in the Europa League means no long-distance travelling is involved, Real Betis still have an important game in La Liga the following Sunday, with little time to prepare after Thursday’s game at Sevilla. Calderón was asked if he’ll be holding any players back, with focus on La Liga.
“As I said at the game against Rubin Kazan at home, the next match is always the most important. After Thursday, the most important game for us is against Elche. It’s an opportunity to take points that will need a lot of hard work to achieve. We’re not going to make alterations or change our line of work. Right now, we’re not even thinking about Sunday’s game.”
Having experienced the Sevillano derby numerous times during his playing days for Betis, this will be his first as manager. As such, Calderón was asked for his thoughts about returning to the Sánchez-Pizjuan home of city rivals Sevilla.
“It’s been many years since I’ve been there, but I was always there when I played for Betis. I’m so used to visiting so many stadiums over so many years in football, that this is just one more stadium, one more experience. This city deserves spectacles like this, there’s two extraordinary groups of fans. It’s an opportunity for the city to celebrate. I’m convinced that the fans in this city, are up to the standards of an event such as this.”
Finally and having spoken about what the derby means for the fans, that’s what forms the strongest of his memories from his playing days, when it comes to Sevilla-Betis derby games.
“On the pitch, my best memory was when we beat them a comfortable 3-0 in the Copa del Rey, at the Benito Villamarín. The most important memory though, is the week ahead of the games, the atmosphere of the city, followed by what comes after the result.”