Europa League: 'Tecatito' Corona and Sevilla go for the quarterfinals of the continental tournament

The Mexican Jesús Tecatito Corona and his team, the Spanish Sevilla, face the second leg in the round of 16 series against English West Ham. The game will take place this Thursday, March 17 at 14:00 hours, central Mexico time, on the pitch of the Olympic Stadium in London.

After having managed to take advantage in the first of the commitments, the Andalusian team will visit the English capital to try to finish the task and get closer to their seventh championship. All while, when Sevilla perform in the quarterfinals, they have never stopped lifting the UEFA trophy. On a personal level, Corona is in search of his first international trophy in the old continent.

“I think the match will be a very nice challenge. I think it will be more difficult (the return). We have to face it in the best way, we have to be focused from the moment the referee beeps to be able to pass the tie,” the Mexican said at a press conference prior to the match. The first leg ended one by zero with a score from Munir El Haddadi.

Along with Corona, coach Julen Lopetegui also appeared before the media in what he described as difficult and different the match to be played in the English capital, compared to the first leg of the round of 16. However, on paper the Spaniards are favourites to win the tie: while West Ham has never won the tournament, Sevilla boasts of being the club with the most titles in the Europa League.

“We will see a different team from the one we saw in Seville and here it will be even better because in our stadium they also played well. The rival and the tie are going to demand a very high level from us. I expect a team full of extraordinary players. They are going to want to play their tricks, attacking you in many ways, but the important thing is what we do,” commented the technical director.

Tecatito arrived at the Sevillian group at the recent winter market at the express request of Lopetegui. Since then the winger has been immediately considered in the team's lineups (just a day after his signing was announced, he played the derby against Real Betis). To date, the Mexican has two assists in eleven games played. “We are very happy that he is with us”, were some of the words in praise, expressed by his coach.

The Mexicans at Real Betis will also have activity for the return of the round of 16 of the second most important tournament in Europe. However, the squad of Andrés Guardado and Diego Lainez is at a disadvantage after their first leg. The Sevillians also lost by a score of two goals to one against Frankfurt in Germany at the Benito Villamarín Stadium, home betica.

In the call, the Little Prince was left out after suffering muscular discomfort. The one who was considered is ExAmérica Lainez, but his participation on the court looks unlikely after the scant activity recorded this season. The mission of coming back is complicated on the grounds that the Germans have an undefeated record in their last seven matches against Spanish clubs.

“The important thing is that we regain offensive security and maintain what we have already done for 14 months. We played against a good opponent with very good players. One will be eliminated and as the competitions progress is made, each match is a final. We are convinced that we are capable, but we have to prove it,” said Manuel Pellegrini, green-and-white coach.

KEEP READING: