Sevilla qualifying for the Europa League final has become almost routine in the past two decades but this season’s run was unforeseen by everyone. Except for their players.
Two months ago, Sevilla slipped to a two-goal loss at Getafe to plunge them deeper into the relegation mire at the foot of La Liga. Days earlier, they had sealed – a somewhat unconvincing and nervy – progress past Fenerbahce into the last eight of the European competition.
The Andalusian club sacked Jorge Sampaoli – their third coach of the campaign, who had replaced Julen Lopetegui five months earlier – and moved for Jose Luis Mendilibar. A highly-respected coach but one who was viewed as a quick fix to immediately improve results and morale, to stabilise the situation until the end of the campaign.
Tasked with keeping the club in La Liga, Mendilibar’s Sevilla have amassed more points (19) in eight league games than any other club in the league in the same period – including newly-crowned champions Barcelona. They are in the top half and, somewhat remarkably, eyeing European qualification.
What they have done in Europe is even more extraordinary. After being outplayed for an hour at Old Trafford and trailing by two goals, two fortunate late own-goals preceded a convincing triumph over the Red Devils in Seville. They then, after extra time, deservedly saw off Italian giants Juventus.
Defender Nemanja Gudelj, speaking to Mirror Football , explained that there were no doubts within the club’s changing room that the tournament – which Sevilla have won a record six times, all since 2006 – would provide their inspiration for a stunning turnaround in fortunes.
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“It is an amazing feeling,” Gudelj explained, after helping the team qualify for a seventh final. “Everyone knows the special relationship that Sevilla have with this competition and we in the dressing room live up to those occasions.
“Before every game in the competition, we are talking to encourage ourselves with the statistics we have and that no club wants this as much as us. That record gives us strength.”
Those statistics are incredible. Sevilla have progressed in all 20 Europa League ties from the quarter-final stage onwards in which they have played. “We believe this has helped us save our difficult season and now we have it in our hands to win silverware and also to play in the Champions League.
“If you look at our results in the Europa League against PSV and Fenerbahce, those games were when we were in really difficult moments domestically. But the competition motivated us to be even higher and play even better.”
Despite still languishing 10th in the standings, Sevilla are Spain’s in-form team and are currently the team to beat. “This has been a really difficult season, especially until the mid-season,” Gudelj admitted.
“We have improved in recent months and even if performances were not at the standard we set ourselves – this needed to improve. You cannot compare this team to the beginning of the season. We have won 80 per cent of our matches under Mendilibar. This is a different team.”
Speaking of how difficult the multiple changes at management level have been, the Serbian continued: “Having three different coaches with three different views of football makes it difficult. I have only the best players for any coach I have had here and this happens in football – we had to adapt.
“Mendilibar (compared to Lopetegui and Sampaoli) is much simpler. He sees the group, sees what qualities they have and tries to take the maximum from that group with his view of football. We try not to complicate anything and play very high, aggressive football. That is how Sevilla traditionally play football.”
Gudelj added: “It has been a very difficult season without stability, but we never stopped believing in each other.”
Sevilla now face fierce cross-city rivals Real Betis, aiming for a top-five finish, at their Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium on Sunday. The games never fail to disappoint in action and drama, with Gudelj – who has played in key derbies in the Netherlands and Portugal – believes the fixture is incomparable.
“It is so intense,” said the 31-year-old, who scored a stunning long-range strike to rescue a point for Sevilla in November’s clash. “I have played in many derbies throughout my career. But compared to the derby in Seville, this one beats all the others. It is a very special game. Everyone in the city is either red or green. Everyone has to pick their colour and pick their club.
“The entire city is involved, it is not just football fans but every single person. It is an identity that goes beyond sport, and that is what makes these derbies so special.”
The Serbian has been at Sevilla for four seasons and speaks Spanish in the city’s distinctive, fast-paced accent. He fully embodies the values of the club and credits his father Nebojsa’s three years in Spanish football – playing at Logrones and Leganes – when he was a child, for his adaptation to the culture. His brother Dragisa plays at nearby Cordoba.
“The bond between Sevilla players and the club is very important,” he explained. The moment I signed for the club, a few months later I immediately felt that I was at home. I adapted really quickly.
“It is thanks to the club and the fans, to the people in the city, that my entire family is also here. It is very important for a player if they want to reach their maximum capacity.”
Sunday’s derby gets underway at 8pm UK time with Sevilla hoping to carry the positive energy from Thursday’s memorable Europa League triumph into Spain’s most passionate, highly-charged fixture.
