It has not been an easy summer at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán offices. Financial difficulties, registration problems and cleaning up an overly luxurious squad are very difficult factors to manage. Sevilla FC activated the machinery in June 2023 after the departure of Monchi and the hiring of Víctor Orta as sports director. A ‘continuing’ line to disrupt a squad that had brought a lot of glory, but that was no longer sustainable or competitive. The club’s delicate financial situation, aggravated by the team’s elimination from any European competition last season, made it even more necessary to take the scissors. More than 20 operations between departures and entrances were carried out by the Sevilla sports management. All the team’s lines have been modified, but the exodus of midfielders that occurred between January and September of this year was especially striking. Fernando, Rakitic, Óliver Torres, Joan Jordán, Soumaré, Hannibal Mejbri… none of them continue this season and García Pimienta’s game requires very specific profiles in the midfield. The growth of Sevilla’s game had to be based on this area under the guidance of their new coach, combining physicality with creativity. In this way, Orta decided to bet on the trio Saúl Ñíguez, Sambi Lokonga and Lucien Agoumé to complete the core in which Gudelj and Sow were already present. The first two are on loan, with the man from Elche being a ‘gift’ from heaven for the Sevillistas. The Atlético de Madrid player was the first interested in joining the Nervión club and everything was made easy for his arrival. A coup d’état for a low-profile planning, which sought to inject some hope into Sevillismo. However, the fans are still waiting for the Elche midfielder, since, between sanctions and the serious injury suffered against Valladolid, the player has not yet been able to enjoy quality minutes. A situation that may change after the break, since Saúl intends to speed up his recovery in these two weeks and be available for the next league match against Rayo Vallecano or, at the latest, against Osasuna. A more creative profileSaúl’s absence is He has patched up with different teammates (Peque, Juanlu, Suso and Sow), but the truth is that Sevilla’s core team is still not working as it should. In addition to the man from Elche, a creative midfielder is missing and the Sevilla coach has requested him on several occasions. However, this year’s letter from the Three Wise Men must be brief and the needs are also very pressing in the attack. The sports director will have to tread very carefully to respond to these shortcomings in January. It wouldn’t hurt for the Madrid native to rack his brains to accomplish this, since the biggest blur he has in this 2024-25 planning is, precisely, the core. Although Sambi Lokonga is beginning to convince with his game, especially in the match against Espanyol, his physical fragility and his loneliness in the center detract from the work he does. The team has been relying on its wingers during the time that Ejuke and Lukebakio have been in a state of grace, but the Nigerian’s absence until February forces them to play more in the center. A situation that could have favored the redemption of players like Djibril Sow. The Swiss was Víctor Orta’s first signing as Sevilla’s sporting director; ten million euros were paid for his transfer. One season and thirteen days later, it can be said that the player remains irrelevant every time he plays. A disappointing signing that joins the questioned decision to pay four million euros for the acquisition of 50 percent of Lucien Agoumé. The French pivot arrived in the Seville capital at the beginning of the year, on loan from Inter Milan, he had a difficult landing, as he was injured a few weeks after arriving and then had to fight for his place. Without being brilliant, his performance in the double pivot alongside Soumaré gave the team a certain defensive strength. Sevilla’s priority was to extend the stay of the Leicester City player, but the English club only accepted his sale. An unaffordable transfer for the Sevillistas, which made efforts focus on Agoumé. A young player, with room for growth and who did not need adaptation. The French pivot does not fit perfectly with Pimienta’s style of play, even so, against Leganés he was not having a bad game. He was effective covering the backs of Lokonga and Sow, neat and forceful until he threw everything overboard in the 81st minute. An error in the release of the ball caused the pivot to knock down Cissé in the area and led to a child penalty. that will haunt him for a long time. Given this scenario, the most logical thing will be for Pimienta to line up Gudelj again as a pivot, now that he is going to recover Badé and Nianzou. The Serbian is not brilliant, but he has enough stripes and experience to not screw up too much.
#midfield #blur #Víctor #Ortas #planning
