Sevilla captain Nemanja Gudelj appeared at a midweek press conference to discuss how the team is preparing for the crucial La Liga match against Atletico Madrid at the Ramon Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in Round 31.

Nemanja Gudelj stated, "Our mental state may not have been ideal. After a tough defeat, we have eight crucial matches to go, and we must give it our all. I understand the fans' feelings because the result was not what we expected. We haven't reached the level Sevilla should be at, nor have we reached our full potential. We must work together with the club and the fans to overcome the current difficulties."

“I don’t think this is unfair to the team. We are currently far below the level Sevilla should be at, and we must get out of this predicament. There is a solution, and we will unite and give our all in the remaining eight crucial matches.”

Nemanja Gudelj, speaking about Luis García Praza's early days as coach, said: "Obviously, every coach has their own philosophy of the game, and this coach's ideas are different from Almeida's. We have been training with him for about ten days, and everything is going well."

“We had thorough communication and tactical analysis, which was the right direction. Although we didn’t achieve the desired result against Oviedo, our tactical arrangements were very effective before the red card. Things changed after the number of players was reduced. We have full confidence in the coach and the club.”

“The head coach has conveyed his game philosophy to the team. Against Oviedo, we saw a united team. The players had a clear goal in mind, but a red card in the first half changed the execution of the tactics. We will continue to work hard, analyze the game, and strive to be in top form for the next match.”

“We are in an unprecedentedly difficult situation and must unite and work together with the fans to get through this. In the Oviedo match, we already felt the support of the fans as if we were at home, so we cannot ask anything more of them. I hope they will play a key role in the upcoming quarter-finals. I am full of confidence that the team will win.”

“We are Sevilla FC, and wearing the team crest on the field means we must give it our all, and we are fully capable of doing so. Individuals are not important in this situation; the most important thing is the club. It's not too late to talk about myself after we get through this difficult time.”

Nemanja Gudelj expressed understanding for the fans' dissatisfaction but did not accept the insults directed at him. He said, "After a tough loss, seeing comments like these makes you feel like you've let them down, but fans shouldn't have to bear that kind of emotion. We did disappoint them, but we must look forward and focus on the next game. I think we're all human, and everyone has emotional reactions when things don't go our way."

"It's normal for people to feel angry and worried. We also experience pressure and know how to cope with it, which is our responsibility as professional players and the reason we receive our salaries. We will do our best to play well, even though playing under pressure is more difficult. Whether at home or away, the fans in Oviedo have given us their support. I believe they understand that the team needs them. After all this is over, the fans can express whatever they want, but right now, what we need most is their support."

Image source: Internet/Sevilla official website