On January 18th, Sevilla were 19th. Directionless, dysfunctional, and in serious danger of going down.
Last night was May 18th. Sevilla are safe, one point from seventh, and into their seventh Europa League final.
Spanish football – maybe even European football – has hardly ever seen such an incredible shift.
The man behind it all, 62-year-old José Luís Mendilibar, is known for a managerial miracle – but never has he had a platform quite like this.
Keeping plucky Eibar in the top-tier of Spanish football looked set to be his honest legacy. Yet, after 27 years of coaching, 760 domestic games – the four that he has overseen in European competition might well top it all.
If Sevilla beat Roma in Budapest to win another Europa League trophy, a record-extending seventh – in this season, of all seasons – mister Mendilibar will go down in Andalucían footballing folklore.
Having already dismantled the 20-time English champions, last night’s triumph saw the veteran coach see off the 34-time Italian title-winners, with a performance infused with his own infectious spirit.
A frantic, end-to-end game – spawning 45 shots over 120 breathless minutes – was brought to life by an incredible front-footed approach.
Winning the ball back 10 times in the attacking third, and allowing Juventus just 5.65 passes per defensive action, no side have pressed as intensely in this season’s competition.
Just like old times, this Mendilibar side was fearless, inspired by their feverish support, and relishing the challenge of being the underdogs once more.
As for the game itself, it’s difficult to know where to start.
Sevilla started brightly, but it was the visitors who had the opening opportunity – the impressive Federico Gatti forcing a fine save from Yassine Bounou with a powerful header. It would be the first of six saves for the Moroccan, with nine from Wojciech Szczęsny yet to come.
Working the ball from side to side – with the excellent Ivan Rakitić directing the play – Sevilla were keen to hassle and harry down the flanks. On the left, the relentless Bryan Gil jostled and jinked his way towards the penalty area at every opportunity, while the opposite side saw Lucas Ocampos fly into every challenge with the legendary Jesús Navas in support.
Indeed, it would be those two who would combine for Sevilla’s biggest chance of the half – Ocampos flinging himself at a measured Navas cross to arrow a header down to Szczęsny’s left – just about kept out by the Polish shot-stopper.
That would turn out to be just one of 49 open-play crosses on the night – the most that Sevilla have attempted since such data collection began five years ago.
Chances came and went as the minutes flew by, the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán heaving as the game rocked from side to side. Marcos Acuña would see a powerful strike tipped over, Moise Kean would rattle the post, while Rakitić would blast a volley over all before half-time.
A thrilling 45 minutes, but the best was yet to come.
20 minutes more of heavy-hitting football trundled by before Massimiliano Allegri would make his first move. €120 million of talent came on, and instantly made their mark.
Federico Chiesa flicked the ball infield, Adrian Rabiot headed on, and Dušan Vlahovic bundled his way into space and produced a delightful lob to beat Bounou, just 58 seconds after joining the contest.
1-0 to the Italians, and you couldn’t begrudge the quality involved.
Unfazed, Mendilibar’s men would continue to squeeze high. A barrage of crosses followed, as four corners in quick succession led to melee after melee in the Juventus penalty area.
Just as time felt like it was starting to slip away, though, the moment of quality arrived.
From left to right, the build-up was patient and considered once more – Ocampos, Navas and Suso all exchanging passes out wide, until the latter would look to cut in.
Onto his strong left foot, hitting the ball with vicious top spin, Szczęsny was beaten before the ball left his boot. It was the equaliser that the spectacle deserved.
Amidst the mayhem, one man had been unusually quiet.
Youssef En-Nesyri had hurled himself at a few crosses to no avail, but Suso’s in-swinger finally found him, in the 90th minute of the game.
Glancing the ball goalwards, sending it dipping towards the far corner, he couldn’t have done much more. Szczęsny got across spectacularly, tipping the ball over the bar, and the game into extra time.
By now, it almost felt cruel that either side could possibly lose this game. Sevilla came out swinging, though, and landed the sucker punch just five minutes after the final whistle blew.
Gil drove towards the area, his 43rd and final carry of the night, and picked out a perfect delivery for the man that he replaced at Tottenham. Erik Lamela headed home, and sent Sevilla into European delirium once again.
Their 28th successive game without defeat in their famous old stadium in this competition, Sevilla have never lost a Europa League semi-final.
Better still, they have never failed to win the competition from the final four on.
Who on earth would bet against them doing so again.
The eighth time in the last nine years that a La Liga side will fly the Spanish flag in a European final.
Mendilibar. Sevilla. What wonderful ambassadors to have.