So although Lopetegui’s performance level across his three years in charge has plummeted from “notably good” to “Sevilla have lost their verve and cutting edge” to, now, “they’re in deep trouble!” there are genuine mitigating circumstances. Yet with a record of seven wins from the last 21 LaLiga matches last season, flunking out of what looked like a title challenge and only qualifying for the Champions League on the last day of the season, those circumstances probably won’t save the poor chap his job.
What makes it still worse is that the impoverished performance this season means that he and his team have won only 38 of the last 84 LaLiga points in play. Last March they were in contention for the title — sitting in second place and six points off Madrid with a game against Los Blancos to come. Now they’re struggling to edge clear of the relegation zone in 17th place with five points from seven games. Europe, too, has seen a sudden litany of defeats to teams which, over the last 15 years, Sevilla would have routinely eliminated.
The final ignominy for “Mister” Lopetegui (and a brooding threat for anyone charged with taking over in the immediate future) was laid out by Papu Gomez. One of the clear, recent transfer market successes, “El Papu” returned from international duty with Argentina having been quoted as suggesting that any smart player will have his head much more focused on the World Cup than LaLiga or Champions League business until Qatar 2022 begins on Nov. 20.
“This last month before the tournament starts is going to be complicated,” he said. “Let’s see where everyone’s mind is going to be. How focused guys are. With all due sincerity — that’s the truth of the situation.”
Admirably frank. And, at the same time, alarmingly threatening.
Precisely when Sevilla, Lopetegui and Monchi require every player to be fighting tooth and nail for every header, tackle, loose ball and snarling through every 50/50 challenge — Papu reckons that there’s a temptation to put national team interests first. To protect oneself; not Sevilla.
