Sevilla manager Unai Emery has highlighted the extraordinary nature of the Europa League derby against Real Betis on Thursday night, noting that it’s beyond anything that La Liga could produce, with historical results and current league positions, having absolutely no bearing on the outcome.
At his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Sevilla manager Unai Emery was asked what he expects to face, when his team takes to the pitch against Real Betis on Thursday.
“There are many ways to measure the differences for or against, that Sevilla and Real Betis could have, but we would certainly be making a big mistake, if we were to focus on where they are at this time.”
“At this time, I think that this Betis is a Betis where there’s better sensations, where there’s more confidence about how they’re playing as a team and individually. That takes them to a time where their collective and individual performance is looking much better.”
“This is the true evaluation of how things are at this time for Betis, the team that we’ll face on the pitch.”
“The huge importance of the game, the scenario, the desire of the Sevilla fans, but it’s what happens on the pitch, pure and simple football; that’s where things will change, because there will be few Betis players who play in both games. Our predisposition in how we confront this derby, isn’t going to change; the response that we’ll find from Betis, will.”
One thing is for certain, Emery and his Sevilla team won’t be taking any notice of where Real Betis are in La Liga right now, as it’s a very different scenario, facing their city rivals in a Europa League tie over two legs.
“I think it’s going to be a very even tie, a tie in which not one minute can be wasted, not from the first and not to the 180th. Every minute of both games, will have to be played with the utmost intensity.”
“We’ll face the game as normally as we can, from the knowledge of our opponent, which makes it special, because this is an extraordinary derby. The time is now and there’s no point looking at how Sevilla and Betis were before, or how Sevilla and Betis are going in La Liga. Only when the time of the game comes.”
Whatever the starting line-up for Thursday night, Emery underlined that it’s eleven against eleven on the pitch, whilst stressing the importance of his players keeping their wits about them.
“They’re all battles of the highest level, that make football greater and for the professionals we are, that they don’t escape us. There’s a double responsibility though, which is the fact that we’re the ones who can make the Sevilla fans happy on Thursday. We have to work hard and keep our heads, and in our heads, everything is focused on Thursday. We have to make sure the pressure is measured, just to its right point.”
Emery also played his cards close to his chests, when he was asked whether he’ll start with one or two strikers against Betis.
“Sevilla will go out there to win and to win, we might go out there with one, two or three strikers. What matters most, is the willingness of the team, how they perform and with one, two or three strikers, we get forward well towards the opposing goal.”
As for the importance of Rakitic, who was also in attendance at the press conference, Emery simply explained that there’s much more than just one player featuring, both for his own side and Betis.
“We’ll be playing with eleven players, not just Rakitic. In just the same way, I’m not going to be focused on one player of Betis, I’m focused on their eleven, in their three possible changes and in the 18 that could be playing.”
Without a doubt, this tie presents a unique situation for both teams, over the two legs.
“The connotations are different to a La Liga match, such as the double value of an away goal, all these circumstances are focused on Thursday’s game. What that doesn’t change, is that both teams will be looking for the win from the 1st, to the 180th minute of the tie, attacking opposing goal and defending goal with their best strengths.”
When it comes to choosing favourites, Emery suggested that given the nature of this European derby, it’s impossible to say one team stands a better chance than the other, but hopes that it’s a day that the fans of the two teams in the city, will relish.
“For all Sevillistas and Beticos, these will be two great days and for us, beyond who is the favourite and beyond all the rest, what we want is to enjoy the moment, even with all the difficulty that comes with playing a derby.”
At his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Sevilla manager Unai Emery was asked what he expects to face, when his team takes to the pitch against Real Betis on Thursday.
“There are many ways to measure the differences for or against, that Sevilla and Real Betis could have, but we would certainly be making a big mistake, if we were to focus on where they are at this time.”
“At this time, I think that this Betis is a Betis where there’s better sensations, where there’s more confidence about how they’re playing as a team and individually. That takes them to a time where their collective and individual performance is looking much better.”
“This is the true evaluation of how things are at this time for Betis, the team that we’ll face on the pitch.”
“The huge importance of the game, the scenario, the desire of the Sevilla fans, but it’s what happens on the pitch, pure and simple football; that’s where things will change, because there will be few Betis players who play in both games. Our predisposition in how we confront this derby, isn’t going to change; the response that we’ll find from Betis, will.”
One thing is for certain, Emery and his Sevilla team won’t be taking any notice of where Real Betis are in La Liga right now, as it’s a very different scenario, facing their city rivals in a Europa League tie over two legs.
“I think it’s going to be a very even tie, a tie in which not one minute can be wasted, not from the first and not to the 180th. Every minute of both games, will have to be played with the utmost intensity.”
“We’ll face the game as normally as we can, from the knowledge of our opponent, which makes it special, because this is an extraordinary derby. The time is now and there’s no point looking at how Sevilla and Betis were before, or how Sevilla and Betis are going in La Liga. Only when the time of the game comes.”
Whatever the starting line-up for Thursday night, Emery underlined that it’s eleven against eleven on the pitch, whilst stressing the importance of his players keeping their wits about them.
“They’re all battles of the highest level, that make football greater and for the professionals we are, that they don’t escape us. There’s a double responsibility though, which is the fact that we’re the ones who can make the Sevilla fans happy on Thursday. We have to work hard and keep our heads, and in our heads, everything is focused on Thursday. We have to make sure the pressure is measured, just to its right point.”
Emery also played his cards close to his chests, when he was asked whether he’ll start with one or two strikers against Betis.
“Sevilla will go out there to win and to win, we might go out there with one, two or three strikers. What matters most, is the willingness of the team, how they perform and with one, two or three strikers, we get forward well towards the opposing goal.”
As for the importance of Rakitic, who was also in attendance at the press conference, Emery simply explained that there’s much more than just one player featuring, both for his own side and Betis.
“We’ll be playing with eleven players, not just Rakitic. In just the same way, I’m not going to be focused on one player of Betis, I’m focused on their eleven, in their three possible changes and in the 18 that could be playing.”
Without a doubt, this tie presents a unique situation for both teams, over the two legs.
“The connotations are different to a La Liga match, such as the double value of an away goal, all these circumstances are focused on Thursday’s game. What that doesn’t change, is that both teams will be looking for the win from the 1st, to the 180th minute of the tie, attacking opposing goal and defending goal with their best strengths.”
When it comes to choosing favourites, Emery suggested that given the nature of this European derby, it’s impossible to say one team stands a better chance than the other, but hopes that it’s a day that the fans of the two teams in the city, will relish.
“For all Sevillistas and Beticos, these will be two great days and for us, beyond who is the favourite and beyond all the rest, what we want is to enjoy the moment, even with all the difficulty that comes with playing a derby.”
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