11.08.2014 18:42 h

More to Madrid than Rodriguez

Sevilla coach Unai Emery warned his players on Monday not to fixate on Real Madrid's star signings James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos in Tuesday's UEFA Super Cup in Cardiff.

The midfield pair joined Madrid after shining at the World Cup -- Rodriguez for quarter-finalists Colombia, Kroos for champions Germany -- and are both in line to make their debuts in the Welsh capital.

The first sight of 80-million-euro ($108 million) playmaker Rodriguez in a Madrid shirt is particularly keenly anticipated, but Emery knows that there is much more to the European champions than their two new recruits.

"Of course we've tried to think about the kind of line-up they might come up with, but we're very prepared regardless of who will be in their line-up," he told a pre-match press conference at the Cardiff City Stadium.

"The only handicap that might play either for or against us is the fact that Kroos and James haven't yet played with Real Madrid.

"It will be the very first time they play with Real Madrid and the very first time we'll see them. But we can't just prepare for them. We have to see what the whole line-up will look like.

"Of course it's true they're players from the highest level, players of the highest rank both in physical, technical and tactical terms.

"They've had little previous training, but they know how to give their best even in these circumstances."

While Madrid will start as favourites, Sevilla won 2-1 when the sides last met in March and goalkeeper Beto says that his team can also take heart from their victory over Benfica in last season's Europa League final.

"The most important thing we have to do is really enjoy the match, which is a very special, very unique moment and a first for many of our players," he said.

"It's the fruit of all our hard work last year. It's the culmination of that and we should enjoy it. We have to believe in our quality and everything that brought us here."

The Super Cup is contested once a year by the winners of the previous season's Champions League and Europa League.