Sevilla have endured a disastrous start to the season.
On Sunday, Unai Emery’s side played Valencia, his former club where he performed well and led them to three successive third-place finishes during a financial crisis.
Emery wanted to defeat his old club, who have struggled since he departed.
Some have realised that they took him for granted and he has been linked with a return, but he is in charge of Sevilla where there are considerable problems.
Sunday’s 3-1 loss at the Mestalla was another blow.
How Valencia needed that win, three days after losing 3-0 at home to Swansea City in the Europa League.
A decade ago, Swansea narrowly avoided relegation from the English Football League, while Valencia were between winning two Spanish titles and the Uefa Cup.
Sevilla’s star has dimmed, too.
Double Uefa Cup winners, they also came close to winning the league in 2007.
Sunday’s defeat meant they hit bottom, with zero victories and two points from five games.
Sevilla have the sixth-biggest budget in Spain.
They expect to challenge for a European spot, not prop up the table. They have the biggest squad in Spain and spent €34 million (Dh168.7m) on new signings in the summer – more than any club in Spain apart from the big two.
The new signings inspired confidence among fans who have seen their club recruit well in the past decade.
That confidence was boosted when they took Manchester United apart in a pre-season friendly at Old Trafford. The German midfielder Marko Marin, on loan from Chelsea, looks an astute acquisition.
Sevilla had money to spend because they sold their best players for €90m: Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas to Manchester City for €45m, Luis Alberto to Liverpool for €8m, Gary Medel to Cardiff City for €13m and Geoffrey Kondogbia to Monaco for €20m.
Their team has undergone significant changes, but the same can be said of most Spanish sides.
Sevilla’s position continues to baffle. Ten days ago, they almost beat Barcelona in Camp Nou before losing 3-2. One apparent goal was waved off, and Barca’s winner came in stoppage time.
They played well, their new signings looked promising – though their president has claimed they “lack attitude” in games.
Sevilla are highly unlikely to go down. They have too much talent and a talented coach, but they need to improve soon.
sports@thenational.ae
