Realmadrid News

Capello: "They are a dangerous team"

Why would you stress not losing this match?
It's always important when two top teams play. Both have very talented players. There's a lot riding on this match.

Who is the favourite?
It's 50-50.

Madrid have won five away games. Would winning be a real turning point?
It will be a hard match. We have won games on the road and they have won at home. It will be tough for both sides. They are very dangerous at home.

Do you want the same level of pressure that the team put on Barcelona?
Every game is different. They have very good players, as does Barça, but the two teams play very differently. We have to adjust our game. We always need to pressure the opponent's defence and not let them play their game.


How do Sevilla an Barça differ?
Barça get a lot of touches in, perhaps more than any other team in the world. Sevilla play more direct, straightforward football.

Are they similar styles?
I don't think so. Every team has their own style. A team touches when they have to, but also gets in deep passes forward. Barça didn't touch very much against Werder. They had two long passes and one found Gudjhonsen.

Will the team notice Diarra's absence?
We have recovered Emerson and we hope his leg doesn't bother him.

The World Rankings have Sevilla number one.
The rankings look at all the numbers. They are a team playing very well, and they have a coach that I really admire.


Sevilla are a balanced team that create in the midfield. Will the game be decided in the center of the pitch?
They have been building a good team over the last few years and have adjusted to their needs. That's why they are balanced. We can't just assume they are good in the midfield. You don't win without good players. We are all good coaches, but you don't win without players.

Are they the model to use?
That's the project. We started signing in July, which was very late.

Do Sevilla know how to use the wings better than any other team?
It's not just how they use the wing. They have good players who know how to take advantage of them. You can use the wings if you have players with good break away speed and who can cross well. Sevilla are strong in that area. They are all good and can cross very well.

Will Beckham play in the centre midfield?
We'll decide that tomorrow.

Do you think Beckham can do well in the centre?
He's played along the wings a lot, but he's also played in the centre; in the Eurocup and World Cup for example. You have to play younger players like Nieto where they are comfortable. But Beckham has a lot more experience than Nieto. David can play on both wings.

Will Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy play together?
I don't know. We haven't had much time to try them out together. They scheduled our match for Saturday after we got back from a very long trip.


Are your players tired?
Some are. The pitch was very soft.

And Guti?
He has recovered, as have Cannavaro and Ramos. They are all on the squad list.

Has the match been tarnished by the statements made by Fuentes?
I don't want to talk about that. The Club has lawyers who will take care of it.

Are the players offended?
You have to be very careful when something like this happens. The players are not offended.

Do they have blood tests?
In Italy, yes. They don't here after matches. But on other occasions they have. It's something the doctors are in charge of.


Report by Álvaro Velasco
Photos by David R. Anchuelo
Translation by Matthew Goltz

posted by khalidmrrakchi@hotmail.com @ 10:28 PM