It's December 31, there are few people on the street just hours away from receiving the new year in Seville, and Jorge Sampaoli comes out to greet us at his house.
He just exercised in his little gym and our chat quickly turns to football. He is a coach of concepts, away from the marketing that surrounds a sport that, he says, he loves so much ... but that sometimes bores him because of the way that is practiced today.
With this current Sevilla side, he wants to go down in history and he is looking forward to three league and cup clashes against Real Madrid in just 12 days. .

You are a fashionable coach in Spain. How do you find it?

"I am happy, as well as stimulated because in the coming months, do not forget, we will have to consolidate what we've done so far. Moreover, there are different tournaments for us to aim for."

What do you think about the three games against Real Madrid?

"It was a blow and I would have preferred to avoid it. It's going to be like a Champions League final ... They've gone a long time without losing and it will be three games with a lot of mental and physical wear and tear."

How will you play?

"Our idea is to keep Madrid in their half. If the game develops in our area, we would suffer because their forwards are fantastic. The goal is to have high pressure and more possession than they do. We have a possibility to win, although it will be difficult and almost unattainable if we look at the history books."

How many matches of Madrid's have you watched recently?

"I remember at least the last four."

This Madrid are record-breakers. Should they fear your backlash?

"They can be neutralised with good play. If we have control and immediate recovery of the ball, there's nothing they can do."

Is Modric key?

"He is unique because of his dynamics, and if he and Kroos manage the match it will be dangerous for us."

You are a footballer and Zidane was an idol in that sense. How will you deal with that?

"It's a motivation. I respect him a lot. And now he has managed to unify his style in a short time. The records are his numbers."

Does Madrid's run have better numbers than their form would sometimes suggest?

"Maybe sometimes they haven't played well in a match, that's true, but the result is often defined by Zidane's big players. A 37-game unbeaten streak is no coincidence and the team is clear in how they should play."

Ramos may play the second or third match and he was already the difference for them in the Supercopa. How do you try to stop him?

"He is unpredictable and difficult to mark because of his bravery, but we will try. He already left us without a cup ..."

If Barcelona and Madrid lose, can Sevilla win the league?

"It is very difficult for both of them to go down at the same time and it is also difficult for Sevilla to hold on to three competitions with the squad we have. It's a risk."

Would you be happy reaching the quarterfinals in the Champions League and third in the league?

"I don't know. Being among the top eight in Europe would be a dream, and being third in the league would be very good. But we will see. The second half of the season will be more complex than the first."

Your football is electric and it gives the feeling that you live the same way. Doesn't it make you dizzy?

"Sometimes yes. I recognise that it would be good to stop a little and to analyse some things. But I also think that the coaching profession prevents you from taking a break. It is a constant and unceasing activity."

Sevilla has only developed [since you took over] by 70%. True or false?

"Without setting percentages, something is still missing, yes. We are trying to make progress and hopefully we will achieve substantial improvements that will allow us to be even more competitive in the final phase of the campaign, beyond winning or losing. But the improvement brings you closer to victory, obviously."

What aspect do you miss most on your team?

"We have had many games where we have only been able to win them at the end. We lack forcefulness sometimes, arriving with more people to the area when we dominate, but, otherwise, we are a solid team that presses, aggressively. Of course, it was difficult to change the style of a club that won three Europa Leagues in a row."

Sevilla are looking for a striker. Are you in favour of a typical centre-forward or one that looks for spaces? This second one, you already have, right?

"We are looking for a deeper lying forward, but this market is very complex and it is difficult to find what one wants at the price one wants. There are many players who are not available to us because they have already played in the Champions League, and so it is not so easy. So far, no one has arrived."

You already had a winning style. Why did you incorporate Juan Manuel Lillo? What was he looking for?

"Juanma came to stimulate our possession game, to try and get my team closer to the big teams. For me, that is vital and I understood that Lillo, with his knowledge, was going to provide a great contribution."

Was the previous Sampaoli too suicidal?

"I wasn't worried about being called suicidal or kamikaze but yes, I think now I have more of a reading of the game, knowing where free men should appear and where to find them. Lillo is a very important contribution in that sense, to help improve our game. His knowledge, plus my idea of how to attack, forms an important concept and strength."

The other day you said that you prefer to watch a good movie before a football match. Explain...

"I like old football much more than today. In a film I can detect everyday situations that I then evaluate for communication with my players. In today's football there is too much fighting, friction, too much trouble. I don't see many brave teams these days, that is why I prefer the previous times."

Let's talk about you and your future. How far do you want to go in your career?

"I would like that my style is respected by Spanish football. To leave a mark, an unbeatable style, that my teams play in a certain way - always. And in that sense, to consolidate myself in Europe, where the best players are, undoubtedly."

You once said 'no' to the Argentine national team. Will you deny them again if they come for you?

"I don't think it will happen again. Argentina has great coaches, it's difficult. Unfortunately, it was difficult to say 'no,' but I was loyal to my commitment to Sevilla."

Will you be here at Sevilla for another year?

"I don't know. You never know. I'm good here, I fight for things, I'm in tune with the sports director [Monchi]. I am excited that the people of Sevilla go to the stadium to see a team without fear, wanting to play football. You see a good show every time you visit the [Estadio Ramon Sanchez] Pizjuan."

Will the departure of Monchi mean that you also leave in June?

"I don't know. He's still here today. We'll see what happens in the future."

Would you go to Barcelona?

"That's speculation, rumours. Luis Enrique is a winner, he's respected and loved by the supporters there. If he leaves, there will be a huge list of candidates. It's something very far off and at the moment I'm with Sevilla. Nothing more to say."