MADRID, 4 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Sevilla FC, Quique Sánchez Flores, has assured that the striker Rafa Mir and the Belgian midfielder Adnan Januzaj, who were on the verge of leaving the Nervionense club in the recently concluded transfer market, understand “the degree of demand” of form different from him, and has warned that if they do not reach “the bar” they will not “play.”
“The boys are professionals, but each one understands the degree of demand differently. I have it above what they have marked. After having tried and gone to them in the most absolute need, there is no more time to lower the bar. Whoever wants to play, either meets that requirement or cannot play. It is not enough to be a good professional, you have to have the necessary commitment to defend the Sevilla FC shirt,” he declared at a press conference.
“As a coach, I try to distinguish a lot between being a coach and an entertainer. I don't like to be an entertainer, a coach who encourages the player to believe in his possibilities. Football needs demands in whatever category. If there are fans, you have a demand. I am not going to go to conversations where I have to encourage people to make an effort. He who meets the demand will be there and he who does not will not be there,” he added.
In addition, he talked about how the departure of Croatian Ivan Rakitic was forged. “We had a very honest conversation four days before his departure. He told me that I didn't count on him and I told him that I did count, that I couldn't assure him that he was going to play every game, but that I counted on him and asked him for something. “The decision was his, he said that he could not give what I asked of him and his answer was honest towards what the situation required,” he indicated.
He also commented on the status of those with longer-term injuries. “Gudelj is going very fast and well, living up to his character and positivity, thinking about shortening deadlines. We miss him a lot on the field because we need leaders who speak and help the team. We don't have so many players like that and Gudelj is one of them. Lukebakio still has some time left,” he stressed.
The Madrid coach was also happy about the return of Youssef En-Nesyri from the Africa Cup. “We are very sorry for Morocco's elimination, but we were playing without a striker until Isaac appeared, and making an important effort with Lucas. This is a very demanding league and with Isaac we found a striker and now another has returned. Now we have the feeling that “We have two forwards,” he said.
In another vein, he explained that his players “have trained well” this week. “It has been an important week with a lot of content and with the hope of achieving a good result, transmitting the ambition and desire that we want to compete. It is not enough to play. We have to lengthen the way in which we compete, because the plan falls apart. things happen to us that take away our confidence and the plan has to last as long as the game lasts,” he said.
Finally, regarding this Monday's duel against Rayo, he stressed that “Vallecas was never an easy game.” “We have studied that they have lost a certain fluidity in the initial phase. If they have a little problem, they put the ball in the opposite field. They still have decisive players with Álvaro's verticality, Trejo's reading… He is still alive, with energy and with experience “We have never gone there with any club to have a good time. It always requires sacrifice and if we win we will be close to many teams to be able to reach them. That is the objective and I hope it can be met,” he concluded.