Sampaoli’s Success Secrets

“The points record is very important for me because it fills us with hope for what’s to come and it validates what we have been doing in the first half of the season”, Sampaoli told Sevilla’s official website after the other weekend’s recent 4-2 away win against Osasuna at El Sadar. Under Sampaoli, Sevilla’s 42 points has surpassed their points record of 39 for the half way point of the season which was achieved under Unai Emery in the 2014/2015 season.

Sevilla annually go through team rebuilding due to the constant changes made to the squad. Ivan Rakitic and Carlos Bacca are some of the high profile departures of its most recent campaigns. Last summer was no different, losing their best player and playmaker in Ever Banega to Inter; the midfield maestro left the Andalusians after winning two consecutive Europa league trophies in Spain. The club also sold Kevin Gameiro to Atletico Madrid, and Coke (the hero in the Europa league final against Liverpool with his brace) to Schalke of Germany. These players were important cogs in Emery’s machine which had swept Jorgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the final last spring.

During the Summer, Sevilla once again found themselves in a familiar state, needing to replace players while battling doubts on if their annual key player loss could prove sustainable. The Andalusian club did not only lose some key players over the summer. Manager, Unai Emery who coached the team to 3 consecutive Europa league trophies left for PSG. Emery’s departure occurring at a time where it was perceived Sevilla would take the leap forward in Champions League and push the big two in their league (after a successful 2014/2015 with record 76 points, Sevilla underwhelmed coming 7^th last campaign in 2015/2016).

Monchi the clubs’ director of football and transfer market genius is credited with the ability to spot gems and diamonds in the rough that have made Sevilla tick over the years. Sevilla have made light work of the transfer market, recruiting little or sparsely known talent from within Spain and abroad, the best of the bunch includes Seydou Keita, Carlos Bacca, Adriano, Dani Alves, Mariano and Vitolo. Monchi was tasked with perhaps his most trying assignment: replacing Emery, who had won 3 consecutive European cups and the club appointed Jorge Sampaoli as his replacement. The former Chile national team manager is not an unknown name but less known in the Anglo-Saxon world as he is in the Latin world; he led Chile to the knock-out round of the 2014 World Cup and won the 2015 Copa America with Chile defeating Argentina in the final.

Upon Sampaoli’s arrival there was a sense of aggression in the club’s transfer recruitment last summer. More known and established players i.e. Franco Vasquez, Samir Nasri, Paulo “Ganso” Henrique along with a blend of youth players like Joaquin Correa and Vietto from Sampdoria and Atletico respectively. They put together a strong team designed to achieve their ultimate objective of competing for La Liga and advancing  past the group stages of the Champions League. Sevilla’s summer recruitment policy seemed to be tailored to bring players fitted to Sampaoli’s philosophy of high intensity, possession based football, with a host of Argentines recruited.

Sampaoli didn’t take long to get his dogma instilled in his players with an extra time loss to Real Madrid in the European super cup before going on to dismantle Espanyol 6-4 at home (the scoreline flattered the guests) and qualifying for the knockout round of the Champions League for the first since the 2009/2010 season. The manager demands intensity and encourages his troops from the touchline. His team’s high tempo football on the pitch is matched by Sampaoli’s determination off it and his players mirror his intensity as he paces enthusiastically on the touchline. He has been the star at the forefront of the team. Without really any major stand-out player, Sevilla are on their way to becoming one of the most complete teams in Europe this season and certainly one of the most entertaining.

Sampaoli has been a success so far in Spain. Source: here

Sampaoli’s sides are a joy to watch- his Chilean team was a testament to his footballing doctrine. A devout student of Marcelo “El Loco” Bielsa, his Sevilla team is a well-trained and coached side, intentionally moulded to be physical whilst blessed with tactical nous and awareness emblematic of Spanish and South American players. The expertise of game control oozes around this team! His Sevilla team usually line up in either a 3-5-2 formation (more in away games) and a variation of 4-3-3 formation (played more in home matches). The switch to different formations has not affected Sevilla’s results and their tactical flexibility gives them options and an edge over their opponents, as was illustrated in the game against Osasuna in Pamplona when the switch for 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 occurring at  2-2 with Pablo Sarabia coming on for Mercado, one of the starting centre backs. The team’s is flexible with players like Steven Nzonzi, Vincente Iborra, Vitolo and Mariano motivating the team with their steel and drive along with players like Vasquez, Sarabia, Mariano and Nasri also mixing up in with guile and aggressiveness in their play.

Sevilla is a tall, physically strong, ball retaining, high pressing side with zest for attacking football and an appetite for scoring goals. Only Barcelona have averaged more possession in the opening 19 matches of the season so far, and only Madrid and Barcelona has scored more goals than Sevilla, with Sevilla having 13 different scorers of the 48 goals scored so far. An average of 2.5 goals in Sevilla games this season, contributes to make them a thrilling watch; the team has also mounted some spirited comebacks this season and taken some big scalps at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this season, beating both Atletico and Real Madrid at home, the solitary loss at home coming versus Barcelona this season.

Sevilla players celebrating after ending 40 game Real Madrid’s unbeaten run. Source: here

What has also been impressive with Sampaoli’s side this season is not just their attacking football, their away form has improved from last campaign. Their home ground has long been a difficult place to go to in La Liga however, last season under Emery, Sevilla went without winning a single away match, (that has been toppled by emphatic victories at 0-4 at the Anoeta ,0-3 at Celta Vigo – all grounds where other top teams in La Liga traditionally struggle). Most imperatively, Sevilla don’t know when they are beaten, the players believe in their football and project Sampaoli. The team has mounted spirited comebacks with Sevilla scoring 16 goals after the 75^th minute this season with these goals winning 24 of their 42 points this season, most notably the late show to end Real Madrid’s unbeaten record.

So far, it has been a great season for the Andalusian club with additions in the winter transfer window like Jovetic and Clement Lenglet from Nancy to add depth. Jorge Sampaoli isn’t getting careless in the league and has outlined the duties to his players and fans alike.

“Our duty is for the fans to turn up on the pitch, especially at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, to be euphoric from start to finish. It would be a failure otherwise.”I’m happy that Sevilla fans are pleased. It generates more responsibility as we will have to surpass 85 points and that is going to be very, very challenging.”I know Real Madrid and Barcelona will do so and probably Atletico will come close. We are there now and need to assume our place and maintain ourselves up there as long as possible.”

Following last weekend’s defeat to Espanyol and with Leicester in the champions league in February, Sevilla are 4 points behind Real Madrid (Madrid have with a game in hand), I fancy Sevilla to stay strong and make a headline or two in Europe this season.

 You can catch me talking my nonsense on European football on the Cruijff Turn, here.