Sevilla head into their upcoming clash with Osasuna under pressure, and their coach did not shy away from addressing the situation in a tense but revealing press conference as reported by Dairo AS via their YouTube channel.
Coming off a difficult run, including the heavy defeat where Barcelona thrashed Sevilla 5–2 to strengthen their La Liga title charge, the mood around the club remains fragile despite occasional bright moments like the chaotic 2–2 draw against Elche where Akor Adams scored twice to rescue a point.
Right from the start, the Sevilla coach made it clear that the team’s focus is on immediate response rather than dwelling on past failures.
He explained that the tight schedule leaves little room for reflection, emphasizing the urgency of bouncing back quickly. Introducing his thoughts on the team’s mentality after the recent loss, he said:
I think the good thing is we have another game straight away, and that is actually very important for us because it doesn’t give us time to stay stuck in what happened before. We barely had time to train properly, so the players are mostly recovering physically, but mentally they are already focused on the next challenge. I can see in the group that there is a real desire for the match to come quickly so we can respond on the pitch, correct our mistakes, and show a better version of ourselves. That’s all we can do in this situation.
When questioned about speculation surrounding his job security after a mixed start, the coach reacted with visible surprise and frustration. Addressing the topic directly, he made his stance very clear:
If a coach gets three points in three games and that leads to questions about being sacked, then honestly that would be total madness in football. That would mean there is no stability anywhere. You would end up changing managers every few weeks, and that is not how you build anything. I understand the noise, I understand people want results immediately, but we also have to stay calm and realistic about where we are and what we are trying to build step by step.
On the tactical side, he admitted that performances especially in attack have not met expectations. Before going into detail, he acknowledged the concern and then broke it down:
The first half the other day was the worst we’ve done since I arrived, and I will not hide from that. We were not aggressive enough, we were not sharp enough, and we didn’t play at the level required. But in the second half we reacted much better, we created three or four clear chances, and that shows there is still something there in the team. What we need now is consistency over 90 minutes, not just in moments, because at this level moments are not enough.
Defensively, he pointed to lapses in concentration as a major issue rather than systemic failure. Introducing his explanation on defensive errors, he said:
We are not actually conceding a huge number of chances in general play, but the problem is that the few chances we do concede are costing us too much. It’s small details loss of focus, a missed marking, a late reaction on a set piece or transition and at this level those things are punished immediately. That is exactly what we have to correct, because structurally we are not collapsing, but mentally in key moments we are not strong enough.
A major theme of the press conference was mentality. The coach openly admitted that pressure is affecting his players, but insisted it is a natural human reaction. Speaking candidly about this psychological challenge, he stated:
Players are human beings, and when you are in a difficult run of results it is completely normal that confidence drops a little and that you don’t play as freely as you want. But my message to them is always the same: do not overthink, do not freeze, just play the game. At halftime I told them clearly—forget everything else, forget the noise, forget the pressure, just play football the way you know how to play it. And I think in those 20–25 minutes after the break, you could see that when they relaxed, the quality started to come out again.
He also pushed back strongly against any suggestion that his team deliberately plays for draws, showing a mix of frustration and honesty. Introducing this response, he said:
How can a team go out to play for a draw? That doesn’t exist in professional football at this level. If I ever told a group of players to go out and play for a point, I would be doing them a disservice and I would not be in the job very long. Of course there are moments in matches where you manage situations, but the intention is always to win. Sometimes you are just not good enough on the day, or the opponent is better, but the idea of playing for a draw is not something that belongs in my way of thinking.
Despite the criticism, the coach insisted the dressing room remains committed and united, stressing that effort is not the problem. Reflecting on his own role and dedication, he delivered one of the most emotional parts of the press conference:
I am giving absolutely everything to this job. I am working longer hours than I ever have in my life, watching every detail, analysing every moment, trying to find solutions for the team. I’m fully immersed in it every single day. The staff are the same, the players are trying, and we are all pushing in the same direction. It may not look perfect right now, but there is no lack of effort or commitment from anyone involved.
He concluded by acknowledging the broader context of Sevilla’s struggles, reminding everyone that the problems did not start with him. Setting the record straight, he said:
The problem was already here when I arrived. I didn’t create it. I came into a situation that already had difficulties, and my job is to try to improve it step by step. Sometimes that takes time, sometimes results don’t come immediately, but the only thing I can control is the work we do every day and the way we try to improve.
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Softfootball mentioned that Sevilla’s season continues to swing between moments of resilience and worrying inconsistency, and this upcoming match against Osasuna could prove crucial in defining whether they stabilise or remain stuck in a tense battle to regain control of their campaign.