Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido says his team should be concentrating on getting into Europe next season and not whether coach Gregorio Manzano will be back next season.
Sevilla are currently seventh in La Liga, equal on points with sixth-placed Atletico Madrid and just two points back from fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao. They need to move into the top six if they are to play in the Europa League next season.
Del Nido refused to speculate on the future of head coach Manzano next season, but rather emphasised the importance of the final three games of the season, starting with an away trip to Pamplona to face Osasuna on Wednesday.
“The only thing on my mind is going to Pamplona and getting a win,” del Nido said. “We have three important games remaining in order for us to finish fifth or sixth in La Liga, and any result that isn’t qualifying for Europe is a disaster for us. There have been few bigger embarrassments by Sevilla as big as the 2-5 and the 2-6 defeat (to Real Madrid) on Saturday. The players are indebted to the fans, and have to show what they are like and regain the applause that they have lost. We will not talk about next season yet, or whether Manzano will continue with us or not. Nor who will be in the squad. We keep working for the future, but for now we are focusing on Pamplona, the game against Real Sociedad and then the visit to Cornella Stadium (Espanyol).”
photo credit: Ricardo Barquín Molero