“Barcelona is the fittest team in Europe”

Julen Lopeteguicoach of Sevillahas highlighted the “desire” and the “illusion” that his team has to compete against the Barcelonaa rival whom he has described as one of “the best in the world” at the present time and who, with the incorporations and the moment he is in, could compete “perfectly for the Champions League”.

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The Basque coach has recalled the problems he has in his squad due to injuries, casualties and the lack of internationals in a week of hiatus and also the operation of Fernando and the new injury Delaney with Denmark.

“We have had to train with 6 players and logically with the novelty of Fernando’s operation and Thomas’s injury, but also with that of some other players. What all this does to us is that it limits us the possibility of playing with a series of conditions in Barcelona. But we are going forward, with great enthusiasm, to an important game, a big game, against the most fit rival, I would not say Spain but Europe. One of the most important rivals you can find without a doubt”, commented the former goalkeeper, who nevertheless has in his head the possibility of putting on a good game at the Camp Nou.

“There is the difficulty of the rival’s moment, a Barcelona that is winning games not only comfortably, but also playing well and with good performances. But we have a goal that excites us a lot, to play a great game in Barcelona and get a good result despite all the difficulties we have”, he adds.

“It’s one of the best squads in the world”

A Lopetegui They asked him if the match will be similar to the one in the first round, about which he said that it will have nothing to do with it. “No two games are the same. They have evolved a lot, it is one of the best squads in the world, with signings, changes of players who are no longer there… it is evidence. It is a reality that we cannot change. We have to focus on competing with what we have and go with that enthusiasm and the healthy intention of getting something positive out of it”.

Even maintaining second place in the standings doesn’t keep him up at night. Nor that he Seville take so long without winning at the Camp Nou. “The mission is to be able to face a great team, which right now could perfectly compete for the Champions League. The ambition, the desire to overcome the difficulties we may have… is what moves us. The statistics are there to be statistics, neither the previous games are going to condition us or anything”.

Lopetegui has continued talking about the stars of the Barcelona. “We are talking about world top players in all senses. With appearances by young players, it’s difficult to see… But we shouldn’t focus so much on that, on situations that we can’t control, but rather come here believing in ourselves and in what we can do, being aware of our difficulties”.

The FIFA virus and something else to say by the clubs

Lopetegui He also spoke of the footballer’s demands and the injuries caused by the saturation of international matches, something that clubs suffer.

“It’s complicated. You lose 12 or 13 footballers, you can’t work with them at this time. The FIFA virus has now punished us with injuries (Delaney or Bono), but all that is part of the context and the difficulty. If the clubs should say something more? It’s complicated, I’m not the right window. I may have an opinion, but it blows with the wind. But there should be something regulating it. The players have two lungs, two legs and a heart like 20 years ago and 15 or 20 games more than 20 years ago is complex “

On this matter he referred to the goal Bono, hesitation when receiving a blow to the head that made him spend a night in the hospital in Morocco. “We have done all the tests and he has not been able to train with the team until today. But we have to wait until tomorrow.”