Manolo Jimenez Interview
Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez has been under a lot of pressure recently and on the receiving end of some fairly harsh criticism from the fans and local press; quite astonishing when you think that they are currently sitting in third place in La Liga and through to the semi finals of the Copa del Rey - and all of this after suffering an horrendous injury crisis throughout the first half of the season.

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I caught up with a defiant Manolo Jimenez to discuss the pressure he has been under at the Sanchez Pizjuan, for an interview broadcast on Revista de la Liga this week, and I asked him how he has been coping with the demands of the board, the fans and the local media...

Guillem:    How is it that the fans are still not happy with you even though you have the side in the top four?

Manolo Jimenez:   Well first off, the level of expectation at Sevilla is very high. I feel comfortable with that level of expectation because I am an ambitious person. This season, until now, the only side that was ahead of us was Barcelona - and now Real Madrid are above us in the table. I am very happy that as a club we have spent the whole season in the top three teams in the league.

Guillem:   There is a theory doing the rounds that states you are getting some payback from your time as a player when you did not have a good relationship with the press. Is there any truth to that do you think?

Jimenez:    No. I don’t think so. I never had any problems; I always attended interviews like I am attending this one. What I do have crystal clear is that when I took over the side last season we were twelfth in the league and then went on to half the best record in the second half of the season, which was no coincidence, and we went on to finish fifth.

This season, with the exception of Barcelona, no one has played better football than us and won as many points. Having said that, over the last three games, Real Madrid have overtaken us; but we are talking about Real Madrid here! Look, we are still very much alive; we are one step away from qualifying for the final of the Copa Del Rey and third in the league. I am happy with that and enjoy the expectation because, despite the fact that I am a young manager, I want to achieve important things. I have always wanted my teams both at youth and senior level to be up there fighting for the top places in the table.

Guillem:    You can tell that you are a bit upset at the way in which people treat you, but how much of an impact have injuries had on your season?

Jimenez:   No, look I am not angry, it’s not in my nature to be wound up by things like that. I am quite a thick skinned kind of guy. I am by no means a passive person and always try to leave an imprint of my character on whatever I do. That is the way I am. I was the same as a player, now as a coach, and in my day to day life. As far as the injuries go...It is not normal to have a season when on average you have about eight or nine players injured but despite that fact we are still up there in third place, fighting to achieve things.

I am happy to be able to work with the great professionals that we are lucky enough to have at this club, because despite the fact that they have had to frequently play on Wednesdays and Sundays, they have given their all to make sure we are where we deserve to be fighting with the other big clubs. 

Guillem:  You have already played the first half of the semi-final of the Copa Del Rey. What do you remember of that game and what do you have to do to actually get to the final?

Jimenez:  It was a shame because the rain meant that we could not play a normal game, so to speak. We could not play our style of one touch attacking football. There was not a lot of flowing football in the first half of the game because the pitch was full of water, so it slowed the game down. In the second half we were able to turn the scoreline around in our favour and create a lot of chances. The only problem for us was that we did not have enough time. The thing is, there is a long way to go; we know that Athletic Bilbao are a strong side and at 2-1 we must believe we can get through, but they are a physical side and it is not going to be easy.

Guillem:   At Sevilla you have some of the best young players in Spain; let’s talk a bit about Jesus Navas first.

Jimenez:   Jesus Navas is a player that I know inside out because he played for me in the youth side (Sevilla Atletico)when he was 16, in the second division. He is a great talent; he is quick and has fantastic technical ability. Despite the fact that he is of a slim build, he has a powerful shot, and is very strong. He never misses training and is rarely injured. He is a complete player. You could call him the total player.

Guillem:   Diego Capel?

Jimenez:   He is different to Jesus in the respect that he is slightly less technical, but he is a faster player. He is a pure winger, quick and incisive. He can play on the right or left. He is a good crosser of the ball and is certainly one to watch.

Guillem:   Is there anyone else that you would add to that list?

Jimenez:   Yes, I think there are other players to look out for at this club like Diego Perotti; David Prieto is having a good season at centre back, and I think that Fazio is a central midfielder or centre back with a great future ahead of him.

At Sevilla we have a lot of young players like Acosta, Armentero and Cordero who are players that will come to fruition in the future.
 
Guillem:   Kanoute is a player who is having a fascinating career. At West Ham some people were not sure if he was going to be good enough, now he is absolutely essential to Sevilla. Is he playing in a calculating way because of his physique now? 
 
Jimenez:   I think that Fredi is a different kind of player because of his build and his size in particular. It is not often you find a player of his size that can move with the agility that he has. He is priceless to us at the moment and I think he would be wherever he played. I think that he has matured as a player with us and I think that he is a striker that not only scores goals but also gets the team playing. He is vital to us.

Guillem:  Is it true that he has to be calculated with his efforts because of his physique?

Jimenez:  Yes! He is a player that we have to look after because he always exerts himself to the maximum level on the pitch . We have to make sure that his muscles do not suffer due to his size and weight. Sometimes we have to do specific work with him to keep things in check. 

Guillem:  The work with Luis Fabiano must be a bit different? Is it a bit more psychological than physical? 
 
Jimenez:  Luis Fabiano has everything he needs to be a top player. He had an incredible second half of last season. This season he started with an injury and has been one of the players that we have been missing.

He is injured at the moment but Luis Fabiano has a special talent and is a player that you have to get on the pitch when he is fit, because he can win you the game in an instant.

Guillem:  What does this Sevilla need to truly become your team?

Jimenez:  First and foremost I need more than fifteen out of my twenty two players available for selection which is what I have been dealing with thus far. I think that is fundamental when you consider that we are up against the likes of Madrid and Barcelona who have such a great wealth of resources; we are behind in that respect, but we can match them in terms of quality. You have to remember that they have twenty two top class players to call upon. We have fifteen professionals and the rest of my players are from the youth team. We need a bit of luck as far as injuries are concerned and to get a few of our players back in action, then we can aim high.

Guillem:   What is the target for this season then?

Jimenez:  To qualify for the Champions League, because it would be irrational to suggest that Barcelona will not go on and win the league; things would have to go spectacularly wrong for them if that were not to happen. As well as that, I want us to go on to qualify for the final of the Copa Del Rey - and win it.

Guillem:    Barcelona this year...

Jimenez:   They are on a different level. They have twenty two players of the same level that give their all, and among them there are three of four players who are the best in the world in their positions: Messi, Daniel Alves and Xavi.

Guillem:    The Sevilla President has talked about your future, and said that you will remain at the club until the end of the season. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Jimenez:    I think that it is a good thing; he knows what I am working towards and what I am getting out of this team. Since I took over as manager, he has seen this club qualify for Europe and remain in contention for European places.