Easy – I used to cover for Dani Alves! Navas explains shift to full-back under Guardiola

Jesus Navas says years of covering for Dani Alves at Sevilla made it easy for him to become a full-back for Manchester City.

Having spent his earlier career as a winger, Navas was deployed as an emergency right-back in Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge at the Etihad Stadium due to injuries.

Navas returned to Sevilla after the 2016-17 season and has mostly been used in defence for club and country since, including in all four LaLiga appearances this season and the 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying win over Romania on September 5.

The 33-year-old says it was a natural progression for him to become a defender, partly because of his experience of covering for the marauding Dani Alves during the Brazilian’s time at Sevilla between 2002 and 2008.

“There were players injured [at City] and he [Guardiola] asked me if I could play there,” Navas said, courtesy of LaLiga. “I told him that I could do it without a problem because when I played with Dani Alves he used to attack a lot, so I normally covered him in the defence.

“I did not have any problem doing it. Everything went well.”

Navas won six trophies in his first spell with Sevilla before helping City to one Premier League and two EFL Cup triumphs.

However, his crowning achievement came when his burst forward from his own half led to Andres Iniesta’s winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final.

“Thinking about that play, for me to have won a World Cup is the biggest thing ever as a player,” he said. “You dream of that from when you’re a child. It was a dream that became true. It was incredible. The greatest moment for me.
 
“My next dream would be to win another title with Sevilla and with our fans. That would be something big.”

Navas twice won the UEFA Cup with Sevilla before it was rebranded as the Europa League and he now wants to lift the trophy for a third time this season.

He also predicts a Spanish team can triumph in the Champions League – as well as former club City.
 
“Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona or another team that’s always on top can win the Champions League,” he said. “The Spanish teams always fight for this title.
 
“[The Europa League] is very special for us. We have won it on various occasions and feel very comfortable playing it. We know that it is difficult and a long tournament, so we have to go game by game. The truth is that this competition has given us a lot of happiness.”