Sevilla confident of Champions League berth

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido believes the team can still qualify for the Champions League, despite a poor start to the season.

The Spanish club, who take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Europa League on Thursday night, lie eighth in La Liga, five points off the top four.

But del Nido says they have the experience to climb the table, and stay there.

“We shouldn’t get carried away and overreact, because Sevilla can still get one of the Champions League spots,” del Nido said.

“At the end of the season we will be there, just as we have been for the last seven years.”

“What hurts me most as a president and as member number 202 of Sevilla is that people disrespect us and downplay the glory of this club.”

Del Nido also responded to controversy surrounding comments made by manager Gregorio Manzano, who said Sevilla needed ” be more ambitious, more involved in the game from the first minute”.

But del Nido said it was fair that Manzano expected so much from his players.

“It has to be as it always has been here. Eight and a half years here mean a lot. Eight finals, seven European qualifications … this isn’t a telling off, it’s a reflection. I have seen real tellings off from the manager and these were reasonable reflections.”