Julen
Lopetegui, coach of the Seville, recalled the importance of the derby, “a special match” that transcends beyond the points at stake and promises to be exciting. The Nervionense coach has not given clues about the eleven or about the call, which depends on the physical state of Ocampos, absent in the last training session.
“It is a league game that we face as always, with the hope and ambition of achieving our goal against an opponent who arrives at a very good time, who is well managed and has very good footballers. Betis is on a good streak and is where it is on its own merits “, commented the former coach, who does not forget the passionate nuance of these duels, even if they have to be without an audience in the stands:” We regret that there are no fans because we know which is one of the most important derbies in the world. We all have to adapt to this situation. It is what it is and we will try to feel the energy that our fans send us ”.
Likewise, Lopetegui has not wanted to enter into whether Betis will be able to fight with Sevilla for the Champions League. “The objectives for all the teams will arrive in the month of May and we must continue to make merits. Starting each one will earn what they have to fight. Betis have high-level players and collectively they are working very well. But we focus on ourselves, which is what we can control ”, he commented while praising Manuel Pellegrini's career. “His resume does not fall on deaf ears and its quality is beyond doubt.”
“We are aware of what a derby entails and we have to be prepared for that requirement. All derbies are very even and complex and exciting, first because of the sporting situation of both teams and secondly because of the psychological and moral nuance they have for our fans. They have an important passionate nuance ”, he insisted.
(+) Watch Lopetegui's press conference
Lopetegui does not see the improvement of his team in Dortmund as a noteworthy reference, although he warns that now he will have more time to prepare for the games as he is only in the League. “We have to focus on this competition. We have been playing every three or four days since September while we have competed in other competitions. We have had the possibility of extending them more and we would have liked, but we will continue in a hurry because we have late games. Sometimes you don't have time to train and when you do, you should take advantage of it ”.