Luis García Prasa: We will continue to intensify our training and enhance team cohesion through matches.

Sevilla head coach Luis García Praza analyzed the team's overall performance after their second preseason friendly. In this match, Sevilla faced Polish side Cracovia, and the coach shared his thoughts on the team's preparations after the game.  

Luis García Praza said: "Our opponents only have a week left before the start of the new league season, while we have only trained for about 15 days. In the first half, I think the team executed well and maintained good organization overall. We created several good chances, including hitting the crossbar twice and the post once. Although they scored a very brilliant goal, we showed the competitive spirit we should have."  

"After the start of the second half, the pace of the game changed due to the heavy rain. The water made it difficult for the ball to move properly, and the game became more of a physical contest and a battle for second balls. At that time, most of the players on the field were from Sevilla, but as I said before, I was very satisfied with the performance of these young players."  

“I know this preseason preparation won’t be easy, as the team roster is still in the adjustment phase and needs further refinement. However, this is a normal process and there’s no problem, considering there’s still a month and a half before the transfer window closes. At the same time, we will give young players more opportunities to gain experience through matches.”  

Speaking about the positive factors in this match, the head coach emphasized that avoiding injuries is the most important goal of the preseason. Luis García Praza said, "The biggest positive factor today is that the team did not have any injuries. For me, one of the most important goals of the preseason is to protect every player and avoid letting injuries affect our preparation plan. While ensuring their health, we also need to gradually regain our form and improve the team's level through more games."  

"Our players only played about 60 minutes, while Cracovia fielded their strongest lineup for the full match. The heavy rain also affected the pitch conditions, further increasing the intensity of the game. I know this preseason preparation won't be easy, as the team doesn't yet have a sufficient number of available first-team players. There's still a month and a half until the transfer window closes, but we can't wait; we must continue to prepare through matches, constantly improving ourselves in real games, allowing the team to gradually grow."  

Speaking about the upcoming third week of training and the two friendly matches against Córdoba and Ceuta, Luis García Praza said, "After entering the third week of training, we will adjust the match load according to the players' current physical condition. In one of the friendly matches, I plan to divide the team into two groups, with each group playing 45 minutes. In the second match, I hope that the first-team players can increase their playing time to 70 to 75 minutes. This is a process that we need to complete gradually."  

"As for which match the reserve team players will participate in, I still need to make a decision based on the actual situation. But we cannot let the first-team players who need to play 75 minutes continuously bear too high a load, otherwise it will increase the risk of muscle injuries. At this stage, we must continue to increase the intensity of training and improve our understanding and form through matches. Our goal is to be fully prepared for the match against Rayo Vallecano, and at the same time, use the next month and a half to continue to improve the team's lineup."  

Image source: Internet/Sevilla official website