Sampaoli dodges talking about his renewal with Sevilla

Sevilla's Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli said ahead of the visit of Athletic Club to the Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday that he expected his team to keep up with Barcelona and Real Madrid going into the final stage of the season. 

Sampaoli warned of the dangers of Athletic, though, a rival who, after being knocked out of the Europe League, "play their whole season now in just one competition" and lamented the "important" absence of midifielder Steven N'Zonzi, who is banned along with Nico Pareja and Pablo Sarabia. 

With regards to a hypothetical contract extension with Sevilla, who have offered him an additional year, until 2019, he said that there are "intentions, but they're still not linked to a formal meeting" because there's not "too much time to think about anything which is not the next game."  

In any case, the coach said that his "happiness is to do with the fan's happiness" and that "it would be difficult to continue in this place" if his presence did not bring "joy to the people" even though the conversations also "will have to do with sporting objectives and the structure of the club." 

Sampaoli commented in this sense that "today Sevilla have a structure recognised across the world and respected by everyone" and, in addition, is "grateful for the affection" even if he feels it's "exaggerated" to consider "sampaolismo as a religion."