Fernando, in GOAL: “United left us with our heads above water and now we can continue”

Sevilla suffered a lot in the 2022-2023 season. The Nervión team has seen itself fighting to avoid relegation, it has had three coaches after the sacking of Julen Lopetegui and Jorge Sampaoli, but now with José Luis Mendilibar it is almost permanent and looking forward the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United.

One of the players who has had a bad time is Fernando Reges. The midfielder had just played everything but was unable to help the team for weeks due to a mononucleosis disease and on his return he was forced to play at centre-back due to the plague of injuries. That is why he explained to GOAL that he values ​​even more the illusion that is breathed before receiving the “Red Devils” on the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and the illusion to continue writing a beautiful story in his fetish competition.

How do you feel about the decisive moment of the season?
“I’m happy because this season we haven’t experienced any moments of euphoria or joy. Times have always been difficult and now we have to enjoy and that makes us happy.”
Has your season been complicated by that virus you caught?
“I think so, it’s one of the most complicated seasons, because of the illness, and because of everything the club is going through, my teammates and the atmosphere. It’s all been very difficult and now it’s time to enjoy it because it’s a moment.” of joy. We have a very difficult relationship, complicated but with the possibility to move forward.”

Are you frustrated because you can’t help your colleagues?
“A lot. I was used to always playing, being on the field and fighting. I give everything to help my teammates and the club and that free time was very difficult”.
How did it feel to play so many central defenders?
“I tried to help in the best way, knowing it’s not my position. I wasn’t used to playing in this position, but I tried to do things right. It hasn’t always gone well, but I’m now happier when I’m in my position.”
What do you think went wrong this season to be so erratic?
“I think in the most important moments we made bad decisions on the pitch and the club in some things. It’s a learning experience for everyone and next season that won’t happen. It serves as a lesson so that we can manage things next season. ” better and decide better”.
What has changed with Mendilibar so that the team has improved so much?
“I think we’re making it easier now, we’re trying to have the ball in the opponent’s half and press higher. We used to wait a lot and spend a lot of time here in our goal and when you’re close to your goal, things can happen.” “Now we press higher and when we have difficult balls we lay the ball long and fight to win the second game. Now we have more chances to win games”.
There has been a lot of talk about umpires this season, are the players baffled by the disparity in criteria?
“Recently I talked about data. I don’t like to talk about the referees, because we all have bad decisions and mistakes: players, managers and referees. I talked about data (on red) of discrepancies from one league to another, the Premier is here and LaLiga is here. We have a strong league, with good players and well organized and we have to follow that line. I’m here and I want LaLiga to get better every day for me and for everyone. It’s very nice to to play in Spain, it’s a lot of fun LaLiga, the clubs and all the players out there. When I talked about the referees, it’s to see what we can improve, not the referees, but LaLiga in general”.
Now you face Manchester United, how do you feel about the game?
“It’s a nice game. We were close to a very, very complicated draw with the 2-0 score and they made it very difficult for us. The 2-2 score at the end of the game gave us a little life. They left us with our little heads above water and now we have everything to try and get through the tie I think it’s difficult, they have a club with spectacular players, bigger size, much bigger budget but we know the quality we have and that we have something special in this competition. It was noticed in the game against England. The stadium is packed and we’re going to try and play a great game.”
How do they explain the comeback they staged in the first leg?
“We have something special in this league and what happened there shows it. No one expected a 2-2 because they were leading all the time and the first half was very bad and they were good. In the second half we tried but the two goals at the end is because we have something special in the league”
What is that something special?
“There are times when you’re in a league and you shoot 4 or 5 times on target and you don’t score and you say, what’s happening? We’re not doing that. In this league we do it right, sometimes we do things wrong. ” and in the end it goes well for us. We hope that Thursday we can come away with this special spark that we have, this special relationship. We hope that we will also have that bit of luck on Thursday and that the tie will go to Sevilla”.
United arrive with casualties and injuries after first leg, does that make them more dangerous?
“United have players with a lot of quality and whoever is on the pitch will become a very powerful and quality player. I think all teams are going through tough times with injuries. In Vigo we only had 13 players from the first team. Everyone We have tough times but it doesn’t happen to them because of the squad they have. They have players with a lot of quality and they are going to try to put pressure on us up front and they will do everything they can to beat us and we have been prepared”.
What could be the key to overcoming the draw?
“I think it will be decided in detail, it will be an intense draw and they know that in the game they could not have let us past that. Now they know that we are going to create a nice atmosphere at home, the fans we are going to press and we’re going to try to move up. It’s going to be a nice draw and it’s going to be decided by details”.
United are one of the most powerful clubs in the world, how do you manage to match that distance on the pitch?
“Run more and put in more effort. Whether I have to run 5, 10 or 15 kilometers, it doesn’t matter. So we’re going to try to equalize because when we think about technique they are better. We have to fight through effort and the desire to win the match”.

How do you remember the 2020 semi-finals against them?
“It was an unforgettable draw. We really won the Europa League and it was the hardest game of the competition. They had a great team and we were a bit lucky because they had a lot of chances and we got one from Luuk de Jong who enabled us to win and keep going”.
In 2020 they won the tournament but without fans, what do you expect to feel on Thursday with a full field?
“Since I’ve been in Seville, I think it’s going to be the most special game. The other most special games we played here were during the pandemic. On Thursday I’m going to feel a sensation that I haven’t felt yet.” of a big draw against a big rival, where the fans are excited and waiting for us to play a great game. On Thursday I will feel the sensations I couldn’t feel during the pandemic.”
He has already won two Europa Leagues and in Spain they say there are no two without three.
“We know it’s difficult and complicated, but the opportunity is in our hands. I’m very excited and I can see in the dressing room everyone is eager to get to the semi-finals.”
Is Fernando here for a while?
“I want to finish this season well. We have a lot of games to try to win to finish as high as possible, make our fans proud because the season was difficult for everyone and we also have the Europa League. We want them to be proud are.” by playing and winning great matches. If I can extend my career and my stay in Seville, I will try.”