"Our players are less naive than at the beginning of the season"

The Standard receives Sevilla FC on Thursday night as part of the 5th day ofEuropa League. If successful, combined with a defeat of Krasnodar Akhisar, the Liege can climb the top two.

"But for that, we have to make the perfect match and hope that the opponent is a little weaker than the first leg, highlighted Michel Preud'homme in press conference this Wednesday. It will be well concentrated and positioned in loss of ball, which already requires a lot of energy. But it will also keep enough to hurt their foot. That's why this kind of match is very interesting in the evolution of everyone, at all levels."

The coach of Rouches believes that his team has already made a lot of progress in terms of efficiency in recent weeks. "Our players are less naive, not just at the conclusion. On the way, we had opportunities but we missed them. It will be better this time against a team that is still able to put a goal on free kick or a shot from 30 meters in the skylight."

MPH is not surprised to see Seville take the lead in the Spanish league. "When I said after the 5-1 in the first leg that it was a very good team, we smiled. The same when I said that Ajax, who eliminated us in the Champions League, would be very strong. But look where these teams are today. When I say something, it's based on badysis, not wind. Seville does not yet have the reputation of Real or Barcelona but its players have so much quality and they work as well."

Seville, however, was beaten in Krasnodar and suffered in Akhisar. A sign that he is less strong on the move? "Let's hope sosaid Preud'homme. But in these meetings, the Andalusian club still had control of the game."

At present, just over 12,000 seats have been sold for this match. "I still hope there will be 17 or 18,000 peoplehe continues. Of course, I would have preferred a full stadium but the past has shown that in Sclessin, even 17,000 spectators could make noise."

"We have the art to put our opponents in confidence, confessed on his side Paul-José Mpoku. In the first leg, Sevilla was in crisis but won 5-1. Now he is leader of La Liga. Same for Eupen, Mouscron and Zulte Waregem in the league. This is the proof that in football, everything can go very quickly because Standard is better too."

In the first leg, the attacking midfielder agrees that the Standard will have to be more efficient. "First of all, to carry out the defensive instructions but also to take advantage of the opportunities that will be presented to us, which we did not do enough there. We have to be careful of stupid ball losses because they leave very quickly."

Mpoku does not think Seville will snub theEuropa League to better focus on the championship of Spain. "The big clubs do not think that way: they have won the Europa League several times, it is proof that it is an important competition for them."

In the group standings, Sevilla are second with 9 points, tied with Krasnodar. The Standard, 3rd with 6 units, can still believe in the qualification.