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MARCELINO: "WE MUST CONVINCE OURSELVES THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH QUALITY TO BE A TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT TEAM TO BEAT"
The manager is wary of Real: "They come with high morale, but we have to win"

In today’s press conference, the Sevilla FC coach, Marcelino Garcia Toral, warned, amongst other things, that he is a little wary of Real Sociedad, the opponent of the Nervion club this Saturday in the Sanchez Pizjuan. Although this wasn’t the only issue he discussed. The consistency in the team’s play, the system to use in each game or the way Marcelino wants his team to play football, were all put to him at the press conference.
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Although, about their opponent, the manager was clear. He is slightly wary, at a time where Sevilla are supposedly superior: “Real is a team that comes with a good run of results, they have high morale because it’s not easy to get a result against Barca. They will show us that they’re a very competitive team, that never gives up and that will make us work very hard. We have the maximum respect for them, but we’re playing on our pitch and, I sincerely believe that we have a better team than Real, with all my respect for it. And, therefore, we have to prove our greater ability through effort and our game. It will be tough, but we must win”.
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A game which for him “I don’t see that Rakitic is overworked”, at the same time as, asked about the Negredo-Kanoute partnership, he stated that “you might see them together and you are going to see them quite a lot”. Although, as well as specific names, the manager spoke very extensively when asked about systems: “In defence there might also be changes. Look, I could be mistaken, I hope not, but I see games from this season and last and, in the majority of cases, the defensive efficiency of the team isn’t necessarily better because we play with a certain number at the back. Playing with 4-4-2 last season, the team didn’t have less chances to score. It’s an objective piece of information. I don’t think that Sevilla is more or less efficient defensively because we play with a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. In order to be an efficient team, you have to involve all the players on the pitch in this task. In Villarreal, with a 4-4-2 we were good playing against eleven and not when we had the extra man. A team, regardless of numbers, attacks well when it has a lot of opportunities to pass the ball and a lot of movement. And a team defends well when everyone is involved in winning the ball back after losing it. One system or another doesn’t determine defensive efficiency. I don’t believe that the team is better or worse, more or less competitive, by playing one footballer or another, with one system or another. But everyone must, collectively, not want to concede a goal”.
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In this sense, commitment doesn’t stand out as a problem: “I don’t think there is a lack of commitment. This team has to keep going for 90 minutes and during all the games. And, until now, it hasn’t. Throughout 90 minutes we don’t have a collective defensive or attacking idea. Only training every day, the games, and daily performance will take us to this. It makes me optimistic to see what’s happening in training and some minutes of competition. But, at the moment, I am thoughtful enough to know that we have to improve on our mistakes”.
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With regards to Javi Varas’ words about cleaning the image of the Villarreal game, Marcelino clarified: “I want, as a minimum, and the footballers also want it, that Sevilla FC plays like the first 25 minutes at Villarreal. And that, from there until the end, we don’t repeat such games, that our performance is better. After finishing and analysing one game, the next one starts, a good performance doesn’t mean you will win the next. Nor a bad one either. They are different. We would like to win and score lots of goals against Real, but it’s tough, we have to have a good level of attacking play and make good decisions in the final third. But yes I believe that the team is capable of playing like it did against Malaga or Hannover. Since I have been manager of Sevilla FC, the only really dark day we had was when we thought the game was won. It proves that games are won or lost in the 90th minute. Until then, you have to fight to the death. We have to convince ourselves that we are a good team and have enough quality to, on our pitch, be a tremendously tough team”.
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Asked about the comparison made this week with the SFC team that won titles, Marcelino again insisted in his analysis: “In titles, it’s practically impossible to equal it, but in terms of how we play, we must be like them. I want us to be like this Sevilla that, at a football level, is above last season’s and the year before. One thing is to compare names and another is to search for a similar game. I speak about speed, defensive security…football arguments. The result is the product of the game and we, the managers, have to analyse this. Because, through it, come results. In life we must have healthy ambition and give ourselves objective aims. And, in terms of analysing this squad, what I believe, is that we can get to a similar level of play. Then there are the other things. Before La Liga was defined at 70 points, now 100. But if we get 70 points, we can play in the Champions League. Although everything in life takes time. And with this I am not wasting time”. �
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Finally, asked about the offers that Sevilla received this summer for Negredo and Perotti, Marcelino was pleased that the club didn’t listen: “It’s not a decision for me to take. They are two extraordinary footballers but, at the same time, we have to produce more. Negredo is a great player, but I want him to play tomorrow like he did against Malaga. I think Diego is also a good footballer; he’s ambitious, competitive, a winner, and he trains every day exceptionally well. When he has these values, performances will come. But last season he played a lot of games with physical problems, and now he is acknowledging that. However he is getting better and soon he will be the Diego that everyone knows”.

mitchyy:
Am inside uniben presently. There's a bit of panic everywhere because of the rumor. I spent almost an hour before I could enter thru the ekosodin gate. Lots of people are actually moving out of the school hostels because no one wants to risk his/her life. We shouldn't just dismiss it as mere rumor. Anything is possible. This boko haram people are damn serious. Just be cautious. If I tell you guys dat a source in government house lagos disclosed that they actually retrieved a bomb on 3rd mainland bridge, will you believe? No! But I don't intend to convince anyone. Just be careful and alert.

mojounited:
"Having taken on all comers for a quarter of a century, and most often prevailed, Ferguson seems to have set his unbreakable will against aging and mortality. You wouldn’t necessarily bet against him. He has already defied the laws of physics by creating what’s known as Fergie Time, a phrase now common in England that describes the elastic interval that ensues after a match or event is supposed to have ended, but which, in fact, continues. Ferguson created “Fergie Time” out of sheer force of will. His mere presence on the sideline, staring obsessively at his watch, has often caused officials to create nonexistent seconds and minutes to allow Manchester United further time in which to prevail."

Guys, I would like ya'll to go through this article; quite an insightful piece. . . http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/man-united/?hp

chamotex:
This guy, how many teams you dey support.

Only you . . .Man United, Barcelona, Sevilla . . . .na wa o