The Club

ARIAS: “I'M CONFIDENT THAT THINGS WILL GO WELL, I'VE HAD A GOOD TEACHER ”

The sporting director commented that "we have to value what we achieved this season"

"We're all used to playing in finals, winning titles... when you achieve consecutive successes, it all becomes normality to a certain extent , but we have to value a season in which we finished fourth. Real Madrid knocked us out of the cup, in the Champions League we got through to the last 16, it's true that it led to a certain amount of disappointment because we thought we could beat them".

Regarding a technical secretary, he added that "we'll definitely add some modification, some addition, the staff are staying, there remains an intermediate position and a need that we've detected".

Sevilla FC sporting director, Óscar Arias , was the guest on the SFC TV programme La Bombonera-Debate. Arias analysed the first stage of his new role: "The responsibility of taking the reins has a particularly large weight which has an impact, the situation has changed drastically. It's a pressure, but at the same time satisfying , feeling that there are so many people who trust in our work is a great responsibility to give your best, but I'm confident that things will go well, I've had a good teacher".

"It's also been a complex season internally in the club, the possibility of Monchi leaving, Emery's exit, Sampaoli's arrival with a new method, the possibility of Sampaoli leaving, the Biris going on strike, Monchi's definitive exit, Sampaoli's possible exit... all these circumstances generate unease. If we get away from that and we focus on the strictly sporting side of things, I think in general terms the season has been very good".

"We continuously mark out a target for the team, we always try to better ourselves every season. We've demonstrated that this Sevilla side has no limit, we know about the difficulty that competing with the big teams brings. Madrid and Barcelona are at a higher level in all aspects, Atlético Madrid are in a very favourable situation, we want to keep fighting, what we did for two thirds of the championship, extend it for as long as possible".

"Being demanding can't be confused with not valuing what we have done. Next season we can't say that if we don't do better than fourth it's a failure, we're all aware of the fact that this is a very demanding club, but when we set out very ambitious objectives, not achieving them doesn't mean that we've failed".

Preparation for the 2017/18 squad

“Everything seems to indicate that Sampaoli has come to an end of his time here at Sevilla and will leave soon, we are planning for that eventuality in our work for Sevilla FC of 2017/18. The sooner we have that, the sooner we will sit down with the new coach to plan. As sporting director, my team and I will be those who make the decisions, but we would like to work in conjunction with the manager and his proposals.”

“Giong forward, we would like to talk to the manager in relation to the decisions that we are going to take. [Luciano] Vietto and [Matías] Kranevitter came on loan and will be returning to their parent club.”

“Benoît Tremoulinas’ contract has ended and I would like to thank him for the way he has conducted himself. He has paid for his own travel costs in trying to find solutions and we wish him all the best of luck.”

“As for Jovetic, we have to look at his situation. What is clear is that we would like to sit down with the manager to determine the profile of players that he is looking for in relation to the options that we have. The idea is to work so that he continues with us, there are a few contractual issues, but our intention is that he stays with us.”

“Michael Krohn-Dehli’s return has really pleased us. Franco Vázquez’s injury in Madrid opened the door for him to start the game in no other that the Bernabéu, where we saw how well Michael has recovered, in great physical shape. He’s been able to play in the last couple of games and he played at a good level. There is a possibility of extending his contract, that is on the table and we have to study it. There are a few stipulations in force and we will have to talk with the manager.”

“We don’t know about players leaving the club. When a team does well, it’s normal for there to be interest from other clubs, but we are not contemplating letting important players leave. We want to grow, we’re ambitious. Logically, everyone knows how football is and clubs do come in and pay buy-out clauses. We don’t have the financial muscle of other clubs to pay a player their market cost, we do not have the capacity for that. We base ourselves on selling to grow, there are times when it costs us to keep players, you can force the situation to its limit. When it comes to the point where the player wants to leave, and you have to sell, we then look for a play who is not yet at the top level and we hope that he develops into that. Firstly we have to collect revenues and then reshape the squad.”

Sevilla Atlético and promotion to the first team

“Sevilla Atlético’s season has been one to remember. In a few years’ time we’ll be looking back and remember the coach and the players. The second division is a really strong competition, a lot stronger than in a lot of other countries; the seventh or eighth best league in the world. We’ve got a few very young lads who had never played in LaLiga 1|2|3 and have measured themselves up against players with a lot of experience. You can sense the fans’ happiness from the stands, their positivity at seeing how well the team has done. The season has been great and we can be very satisfied.”

“If we look at other big teams, there are few players who graduate in to first team players because the demands are too high. Not everyone can success at Sevilla, because the team are currently playing at a very high level, but I’m sure that the majority will have careers and a few will become top-level players. We are the only club in the first division with a reserve team in the second division, that team has to be looked at when building a team that can have success.”