Sevilla confident of living the dream

Sevilla FC's Julien Escudé admits "it's a dream" as he makes a quicker-than-expected return to the Netherlands for the UEFA Cup final against Middlesbrough FC.

Inspired decision
The 26-year-old French defender was biding his time in the AFC Ajax reserves four months ago, before injury to Pablo Ruiz and Pablo Alfaro's transfer to Real Racing Club Santander created a void at left-back for Sevilla. With first-team opportunities limited at the Amsterdam ArenA, Escudé answered the call, signing for €1.8m. It proved an inspired choice, and he is back in the Netherlands with the chance of achieving something that eluded him at Ajax - a winner's medal in UEFA club competition.

'A dream'
"It has all happened very quickly," said the Chartres-born player, brother of leading tennis professional Nicolas. "I've only been in Seville four months and suddenly we're talking about the UEFA Cup final - it's a dream. I just hope we win." Those sentiments are emphatically endorsed by Escudé's captain, Javi Navarro, who is preparing for the biggest game of his 13-year career. "I have never played a match of this significance before," he said. "I came close with Valencia [CF], but this will be my most important match to date."

'Hot hearts'
Navarro was at Valencia in 1998/99 but failed to take to the field at all during their Spanish Cup-winning campaign, the same prize that adorned the Sevilla trophy cabinet in 1948. The Andalusians have not won anything since, and with expectations weighing heavily on his team from title-hungry supporters, the 32-year-old is keen to lead by example at a sold-out PSV Stadion. "We have to have cool heads and hot hearts, as we need the strength to stand the pressure and hold on throughout the match."

'Goal-making machine'
The old adage is that football is a 90-minute game, and that is especially true against English opponents who have completed three-goal comebacks in the last two rounds to eliminate FC Basel 1893 and FC Steaua Bucuresti. "Middlesbrough have very dangerous strikers capable of causing problems," Navarro cautioned. "They are a goal-making machine but we want to play as we always play and if we do so, we are confident we will win."

Trophy in sight
Such belief seems well founded for a team that have seen off FC Schalke 04, FC Zenit St. Petersburg and LOSC Lille Métropole en route to Eindhoven. And as a man who has collected almost five red cards and 50 yellows in five seasons at Sevilla, Navarro is no stranger to displaying his emotions. Asked about the UEFA Cup trophy on show alongside him at the press conference, he said: "I would certainly like to find out how much it weighs. I want to touch it." Time will tell whether he can.