Mendilibar: We're capable of getting the three points in Seville, we're in good shape and we'll go there to compete"
The only change to the Eibar squad sees Nano come in for Dani García
SD Eibar coach José Luis Mendilibar today insisted that, "we're capable of getting the three points in Seville" because "we're in good shape and we'll go there to compete".
The squad list for tomorrow's clash at the Sánchez Pizjuán remains unchanged from the last matchday, barring the inclusion of Nano Mesa in place of the suspended Dani García. The squad list is as follows: Yoel, Areitio, Capa, Arbilla, Dos Santos, Lejeune, Ramis, Luna, Escalante, Fran Rico, Rivera, Adrián, Rubén Peña, Pedro León, Bebé, Inui, Nano and Enrich.
When quizzed about his side's current run, which has seen the Armeros claim three wins on the bounce, Mendilibar stated that, "the players are training really well, they're confident in what they're doing and they take to the pitch thinking that they can win and they're fearless. I believe that we're capable of competing and beating them".
"If we overcome Sevilla, we can then start to think about other targets, given the position that it would put us in. We would move onto 38 points, I don't know whether we could aim to get into Europe because that all depends on the other teams, but we'll be looking to continue to perform as we have been up until now. The most important thing is to put the points on the board and not to worry about what might follow. We have to take one game at a time. We can't go thinking and dreaming too far ahead because there's still a long way to go. You're never far away from coming a cropper. For example, you can end up on the receiving end of a thrashing and then you perhaps lose your confidence".
In reference to Sevilla's record on their own patch this term, where the Andalusians have succumbed to defeat just once, against FC Barcelona, the Eibar boss commented that, "that means that another defeat is that much closer".
"Sevilla are the side that has surprised everyone because they're showing that they can compete right throughout the season, they're outperforming Atlético, are close to Barcelona and aren't a million miles behind Madrid. That's what happens when you're a competitive side. They're able to change the personnel and their system and still keep on winning. They don't require a great performance to win games because they've got players with individual quality and they can quickly switch things and come at you, breaking on the counter or playing long balls, which is how their goal against Las Palmas came about. Having all of those options is what makes them a great team".
Mendilibar went on to reveal that his side will remain faithful to their usual playing style in Seville. "We have to focus on ourselves and not on the opposition more than ever in this match because we don't know what we're going to come up against".
"Over the last few days we've been looking at the starting XI that they'll go with, but they're one of those teams that, even if you were given the line-up, it would be tough to say who'll play where because they've got players who can operate in several positions".