Sevilla vs Zaragoza preview - Trochowski targets nine points

Posted Thursday, April 12, 2012 by PA

Midfielder Piotr Trochowski has challenged Sevilla to win their next three games if they want to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Defeat at Athletic Bilbao left the Andalusian club seven points behind fourth-placed Valencia with seven games remaining as they head into the clash with relegation-threatened Real Zaragoza.

A trip to Getafe and a home game with Levante follow and Trochowski is desperate for points before April 29's daunting trip to Real Madrid.

"If we win three games, everything changes," the Germany midfielder told the club website.

"We have changed many things and played well. When we lost against Athletic it was a bad day but we have to look to win games and move up the standings.

"Zaragoza are low in the standings and will fight hard, but we must also win to move up the table.

"I'm here to have success with Sevilla and win trophies. I want to play in the Champions League but for now we have to think about the next game and not always look at the table. We must be patient and work hard to improve."

Sevilla will be without Fredi Kanoute for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury. With the 34-year-old out of contract at the end of the campaign, the injury could potentially spell the end of his career.

Midfielder Gary Medel is in the squad and Trochowski and full-back Coke return from suspension but Diego Perotti, Jose Reyes, Tiberio Guarente and Cala join Kanoute on the sidelines.

Zaragoza coach Manolo Jimenez has a long association with Thursday's hosts, having been born in the region and played for them for 14 years. He also managed their second team Sevilla Atletico for seven years before taking over the senior side in 2007.

However, he left no room for sentiment in his pre-match briefing, telling realzaragoza.com: "I'm going back home as the coach of Real Zaragoza and we will work to try to achieve victory from the first minute.

"Our salvation will come from courage. We will have to be the strongest we can be."