I Don’t Know What Happen To Sevilla Against Real Madrid - Andres Palop

The veteran shot-stopper is baffled by his side’s capitulation at the weekend against los Blancos.

Apr 28, 2009 10:00:29 AM

More On :  Real Madrid CF, Sevilla, Andrés Palop
Andres Palop - Sevilla

After three consecutive defeats, Sevilla looked on course to put an end to their dismal run in style as they led and outplayed Real Madrid for large periods of the first half last weekend.

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But a shocking display in the second period allowed los Blancos to romp to a 3-1 lead before eventually securing a comfortable-looking 4-2 triumph. And Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop was left clueless as to how his side collapsed so dramatically.

“If I had a magic wand to find out what happened, I would use it. But I do not know what happened and why it happened,” he said in an interview with Andalucian radio and TV station Canal Sur.

“Looking at the first 20 minutes, we were playing so well. But there’s such a huge difference between those first few minutes and the rest of the game. Madrid gave us a few problems, but what really killed us was their goal right at the end of the first half.”

Palop is not too impressed with the way the team’s own fans have criticised the squad, although he admitted that he can understand their frustrations.

“I do not like it when they criticise any of our players or our coach [Manolo Jimenez],” the goalkeeper explained. “The fans pay for their tickets and they are entitled to say what they want, but we must all be united, otherwise the boat will sink.

“What we have to do now is to observe, to listen, stay calm and try to win a game.”

Finally, the 35-year-old shot-stopper assured that the team have no intentions of playing in the Europa League next term.

“I’ve already said it before, Champions League qualification is not yet secured but playing in the UEFA Cup is not something that has crossed our minds as this would be deemed a failure,” he said.

“Our goal is to finish inside the top four and it would be a disappointment if we do not finish in third place. But we would have fulfilled our objective if we finish in the top four.”

Sevilla are now just one point ahead of fourth-placed Valencia and two ahead of Villarreal in fifth.

KS Leong, Goal.com
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