The scene is unusual. Barely the debacle of Sevilla FC recorded Wednesday evening in the Champions League, at home, against Borussia Dortmund (1-4), the Andalusian club announced in a press release the dismissal of its coach Julen Lopetegui. Except that instead of slipping through a back door, the former Spanish coach returned to the lawn to say goodbye to his supporters. And they gave it back to her, giving her a standing ovation that moved her to tears.
Indeed, while his days seemed numbered even before this match against the Germans – Sevilla are 17th in La Liga after their last defeat against Atlético de Madrid last weekend – fans believe the management is more responsible for the bad run of the club than their ex-coach.
Sampaoli, the return?
Asked on Spanish TV at the whistle, the former ephemeral coach of Real Madrid did not wait for the press release from Sevilla FC to announce that his time had come. “I am grateful to all of Sevilla, to its fans, to the players who gave me three wonderful seasons,” he told Movistar. I feel sadness and pain to leave a team that I love very much and that will remain, without a doubt, in my heart. »
Arrived in Seville in 2019 after a few months at the helm of Real Madrid in 2018. He notably led the club to the Europa League title in his first season. Argentinian’s name Jorge Sampaoli circulates as a possible substitute. He already knew the bench of Sevilla during the 2016-2017 season, before taking charge of the Argentinian national team, leading them to the World Cup in Russia in 2018. He has been free since leaving Olympique de Marseilles in July.