Sevilla–Life After the Champions League

By: Ryan | March 12th, 2008

After the Champions League loss to Fenerbahçe last week, Sevilla have nothing more to focus on than La Liga this season, and more importantly finding a place in Europe next season.

Last weekend, Sevilla looked less than stellar, but pulled out a 2-1 win against Levante to move them into 6th place and a UEFA Cup spot (for the time being). What was significant about this game was the crowd actually whistled at the team at the end.

For those of you who aren’t used to this, whistling is the equivalent of shouting or ‘boooing’ in the states. The Sevilla fans are normally more than supportive of the team, but they are beginning to show signs of disdain as the season progresses on, now even after a win.

The players have had their time to chime in about what is currently going on in Sevilla.

Julien Escude says the elimination in the Champions League has caused a lot of pain. But that the team needs to keep moving forward. He also mentions that Sevilla needs to have ‘humility’, something the club may have been lacking after all of their past successes. The French defender also assures the Sevilla fans that they have been practicing dead ball defending after giving up an inordinate amount of goals from dead balls in the last few games.

Dani Alves takes it a step further. The Brazilian realizes the cycle of winning in Sevilla has come to an end, and that ‘Sevilla has shown what it is to be successful.’ He also mentions the stress of playing in between the weekends and that in order to get into next year’s Champions League they ‘have to recharge the batteries quickly’.

Of course, you know Jose Maria Del Nido has to get in on the action. Del Nido took to the fans and pleaded

“Quiero lanzar un soplo de aliento a la afición para que en estas once finales que nos quedan, el equipo sepa que va a tener el apoyo, el calor y el aliento del sevillismo, que vamos a animarlo para que haga un último esfuerzo e intentar meternos nuevamente en la Liga de Campeones. Seguiremos disfrutando de ese Sevilla grande que se ha construido en los últimos años”,

Basically says that he is asking for the fan’s help in their last 11 games, which he refers to as being ‘finals’ in their own right. I agree that the fans in Sevilla are some of the best in the world, and with the bout of whistling I mentioned earlier, Del Nido realizes he needs to have the fans on his side, or the team very well may suffer. Everyone knows that he is looking towards the Champions League next season, and won’t rest until Sevilla reach that goal.

Sevilla have a tough schedule ahead in the next 5 weeks.

Liga Valencia-Sevilla 28ª jor
Liga Sevilla-Atlético 29ª jor
Liga R. Madrid-Sevilla 30ª jor
Liga Sevilla-Villarreal 31ª jor
Liga Mallorca-Sevilla 32ª jor

In consecutive weeks (starting with Atlético) they play the 4th, 1st and 3rd place teams respectively. These weeks are going to be huge to see is Sevilla really will make it into the Champions next season or to see if they will be back in the UEFA Cup (even though they are already qualified for the Intertoto Cup).

With regards to the league, Sevilla are currently the leaders in the second part of the La Liga season. The standing so far looks like this. (Out of a possible 24 points)

1. Sevilla- 16 points.
2. Real Madrid – 15 points
3. Barcelona – 14 points
3. Villarreal – 14 points
3. Almería – 14 points
6. Racing – 12 points

This lead has moved Sevilla from mid-table club to now having a serious chance for the last spot in the Champions League next season.

Personally I think that Sevilla always has a shot at that last spot. As I’ve said all season long, it really is a tale of two clubs. One Sevilla comes out and attacks like the Sevilla of old. The other Sevilla sits back and does what is necessary in the game to win, but half of those games they don’t even do that much and fall to their opponents.

Maybe Manolo Jimenez isn’t the man for the job? Who knows. But, I think Sevilla can get it done.

What about you?