Croatian Ivan Rakitic, who scored the first goal in Sevilla's 1-2 win against Krasnodar on the fourth day of the Champions League, said his team played “a very serious game” and knew how to “suffer” to achieve ” a well deserved victory ”that gave him a pass to the second round.
Rakitic highlighted to the Sevilla club media that having achieved the classification “is very important” after a meeting in Russia in which “the worst was Sergio's injury” Escudero, although he trusted that his left elbow injury, the one that had to be removed on a stretcher at game time, “don't be too much.”
“He is a very important player for us and we dedicate the victory to him and to all of Sevilla, and that we enjoy tonight after having played a very serious game, in which we knew how to suffer,” said the midfielder, who said that now it's time ” celebrate having reached the second round in this way.
The Croat, one of the captains of Sevilla, congratulated “the group” for the work done and said that “hopefully” they can sign it with the achievement of first place in Group E with a victory in Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán against English Chelsea, Wednesday, December 2.
“We know the importance of finishing first, next week we have a spectacular game at home, which is a shame that it has to be without the public, but hopefully we can have a great game, that the Sevilla players enjoy from their homes, get the victory and be first, “he said.
Regarding his goal, which made it 0-1 at 4 minutes, he indicated that he is “very happy to be able to help the team,” he explained that when he saw the center of Argentine Lucas Ocampos he sensed that the rival defense “was going to get the ball through that area “and added:” It fell perfect, I didn't think about it too much, just looking for the goal, and it came out perfect. “