Luis Garcia: The team will fight for a higher ranking, but the opponents are not to be underestimated.

Sevilla manager Luis García held a press conference ahead of the season's final match. He confirmed that Cesar Azpilicueta will start in his farewell game, while revealing that Januzaj, Mendy, and Casterlin will miss the match.  

Speaking about the team's preparations, Luis Garcia said that this week was significantly different from previous weeks. He said, "This is a different week. Since I arrived here, the team has been training continuously with almost no rest, but this week we finally got two days of rest. After that, we got back into preparations and hope to play a winning game."  

“We will be playing at the home ground of an opponent who has already secured European qualification, but they have not yet determined which European competition they will ultimately participate in, so they will definitely give it their all. I have conveyed this information to the players, and we must play a high-quality game for ourselves.”  

"In my opinion, the team's recent performance has been generally good. Although we have suffered two losses, we have also won three games, and we need to continue this form. I will be disappointed if we don't perform well. After all, this will be the last game of the season, the final game of the year."  

Luis García also admitted that coaching Sevilla was a very difficult experience. He said, "These have been the most intense and grueling six weeks of my life. Watching the team play on TV is a completely different experience from actually being there. You need to understand the players and learn how to get along with everyone. In the past few days, I have felt both joy and relief. I have taken on an extremely complex challenge, not only in terms of the competitive aspect, but also because this is a traditional powerhouse club in Spain."  

“I’m here to stop this great club from getting into trouble, and time is very limited. There’s always pressure, and there have been some really tough times. But I’m very proud of the eight games we’ve played so far, and I hope that will continue after the ninth.”  

“I’ve never experienced a coaching phase like this before. In the past, I always started with long-term projects and built the team step by step, but this time it’s completely different. As for what the future holds, I don’t know. There may be new management involved, and everything could change. Now we can only wait and see.”  

Regarding the squad, Luis Garcia confirmed: "The team currently has some injuries and suspensions. Juan Sánchez is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, and Januzaj, although he traveled with the team, has been ill and is therefore unavailable. Mendy is also out with an ankle injury. Casterlin played through injury against Villarreal and was very tired after the match; he still needs to recover."  

"As for the starting lineup, the only thing I can confirm is that Cesar Azpilicueta will start. It's an honor for me to coach him for just eight games. Some players not only perform well on the field, but are also role models off the field. A mutual friend of mine told me many years ago that he was a true 'top player,' and now that has been fully proven. I don't know what he will do in the future, but he will play tomorrow because he deserves it all."  

“I only hope for the best for Sevilla. If the ideal option is for someone else to take over as manager and I need to leave, I will accept it and be happy for the club. But if that's not the case, then we must clarify our future direction as soon as possible. Our current financial situation is one of the most difficult in La Liga, and we need to build our squad like we're going into battle, the sooner the better.”  

"If a new management takes over and changes the situation, and I need to leave, I will always keep Sevilla in my heart. But if nothing changes, we are currently in a state of stagnation. It is a very difficult period now, and we cannot afford to spend a lot of money on transfers. Once free agents are signed by other teams in advance, we will be at a disadvantage."  

“If I continue coaching, we will have time to systematically plan for the future. The team’s primary goal for next season is to avoid falling into such pain and torment again. The situation is still at a standstill, and I will not leave Sevilla. I will stay here until everything is settled, not for personal reasons, but for the club. Other teams are already moving forward with their plans for the new season, while we are still waiting for the results.”  

Finally, Luis Garcia stated that the team cannot lower their focus just because they have already secured their place in the league. He said, "After achieving our goal, especially after looking back at their goals, I felt a bit disappointed because we had chances to get points. I was very tired after the game and it wasn't until Monday and Tuesday that I slowly regained my energy."  

“The team’s training is going well, although the pressure isn’t as intense as before. But as Sevilla, we must play to our expected standard. We will strive for a higher ranking, as our opponents are also very strong. We also congratulate Celta Vigo on a good season; they are gradually building their own system.”  

Image source: Internet/Sevilla official website