Castro: “We were wrong, but we know the solutions”

Seville president José Castro has offered an extensive interview on “ABC de Sevilla” in which he has analyzed the club’s bad sporting moment, self-criticized and assessed how he is facing the shareholders’ meeting on 29 December in which José María del Nido could challenge him for the presidency.

The bad situation of the team: “It is clear that the team is not doing well today and we cannot live off the past, but I also think it is fair to appreciate what has been achieved in the past nine seasons that I have been fortunate enough to be president : we have played in Six times for the team for the Champions League, three for the Europa League, we have played in ten finals and won four European titles, we made mistakes this year, yes, but believe me, we will fix it I am concerned that the team is not going well, for Sevilla, not for what could happen in the meeting”.

The mistakes: “Talking about what the mistakes have been during the season is now out of the question. Most importantly, we recognize that we have made mistakes when making decisions about different sports, but we know what the diagnosis is and what the solutions are. We’re going to turn the situation around, believe me.”

Winter highs and lows: “We work hand in hand with our technicians to improve the plow on the winter market. We will be ambitious in this market as in the previous one with the integration of Martial and Tecatito Corona. We work in departures and arrivals, but for the negotiation strategy I can’t give you more information. We are and always have been ambitious, that’s where our results are”.

Transfer results last summer: “We made a selection when Julen Lopetegui was our coach. That is the reason for the change of stickers that we are working on at this winter market. We want the selection to adapt to the new coach’s way of playing.”

Responsible: “Everything bad that happens in the club is my responsibility. I take the mistakes and I’m going to fix them, believe me. There is no distance in the club. The executive committee works unanimously for and for Sevilla FC. Although there are differences of opinion on many points, this enriches the debate. We are all as one.”

Monchi and his future with him or with Del Nido: “I brought Monchi from Roma and Monchi works 100 percent for Sevilla. Sevilla’s successes are the successes of everyone who is part of the club. Everything”.

Shareholder instability: “Look, what I can tell you is that it is a pity that we signed a partner agreement in November 2019 and that we have been supporting for three years as one of the signatories, who is also a member of Sevilla, boycott the executive board of directors from the entity’s first day administration, harm Seville. All meetings are a problem and they try to make a mess. It is a pity that Del Nido Benavente has already sold more than 3000 of his shares to the Americans of 777Partners, who come for what they come and do not hide it. He had signed an agreement to run the club and continues to try to blow everything up. We are calm in the face of the meeting, but of course it is a daily wear and tear and a really absurd consumption of resources. The pact is in full force. I’m not saying, that’s how a court has stated it and in court, with which everything is the same as last year. I repeat that it is a pity that we sign an agreement and that one of the partners tries to break it from day one.”

Your support for the meeting: “We calmly approach the meeting. I have already told you that it worries me to return to the path of victory with the team. What we should all be concerned about is Seville. It’s sad that you talk about the opposition when it comes to a man who prides himself on being a Sevilla player and has his son as CEO of the club.”

Del Nido’s Moves and His Promises: “We all already know José María del Nido Benavente and the credibility he has for his career. Unfortunately it is. He himself said on his release from prison that he had no intention of returning to the presidency and yet you only have to look at what has happened in the past three years. To me, nothing he says has any credibility. During his 11 years in office, he did nothing at the stadium, which was the 50th anniversary of the inauguration. Being a demagogue and saying what people want to hear is very easy. I don’t sell smoke. What has been done to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán since 2014 is there: elevators for the elderly and the infirm, new doors, new skin for the outer stands… I don’t want to brag about that either, the stadium had been cleaned up and up-to brought to date that it was necessary to host a Europa League final. And the same in the sports city. Let’s not forget the new stand in the Jesús Navas stadium, there used to be a small stand there which was a shame. We will move into the new first team residence and facilities at the end of this season.”

The new stadium: “Looking ahead, we have commissioned and received the report from Legends, a top company. We analyzed it internally. We have reached out to the League and two top advisers, who are analyzing the report and drawing conclusions. We are working on different stadium scenarios, all according to what the fans want. Soon we will be able to communicate it. The stadium is a priority for us, but I don’t make unrealistic promises, it’s not my style.”

Will Del Nido Vote?: “Last year he was able to vote and he didn’t because he knows he has to honor the pact which, as I said, is still in effect. I don’t know what he’s up to now.”

The economic situation: “The club is not in a bad shape financially, precisely thanks to everything we generated in the pre-covid seasons. In 19-20 we presented losses due to the pandemic, because revenues fell drastically. In 2021, we presented losses because, in addition to still always If the pandemic hit us, we sold Koundé in July, otherwise if we sold it in June, we would have made almost 9 million in profit, and if we have now had significant reds but can continue without a problem, it is due presented to the good balances in previous seasons Of course we are much better than in the 12-13 season. One of our objectives is to reduce the costs of the team, while being equally ambitious in the sport. It’s something we’ve set on fire in the board of directors that I chair.”