Sevilla choke on 2022
On the 31st of December, just before the clock strikes 00:00, in Spain it’s tradition to eat 12 “lucky” grapes. One for each month of the year.
Yet it’s not an easy task, given you only have 3 seconds to chew and swallow each grape. Some succeed, some run late and others are forced to give up and spit out the remains.
But the main concern for this year involves choking and Sevilla F.C. supporters. With each and every grape they’ll be reminded of the points their team has totalled this season. Especially when it comes to the 12th and final grape, where they’ll have to swallow with caution to avoid any further choking this 2022.
Because what a horror show this season has been so far for Sevilla, with just 12 points after 15 games. They’ll be welcoming 2023 from an undesired position; embedded in the relegation zone deep down in LaLiga standings.
In fact it’s been an extremely underwhelming 2022 overall for Sevilla with just 44 points in 32 LaLiga matches they’ve played this calendar year. Their only reason for celebration was qualifying for the Champions League, competition which they are no longer a part of.
Three layers of blame
It was under Julen Lopetegui that the team suffered a considerable decline shortly after entering 2022. It felt like he was no longer connecting with his players and that a change was needed. Monchi vouched for his continuity, but that was definitely a mistake.
So it’s fair to say that Lopetegui is the first layer when playing the blame game. One that was peeled off to reveal bigger problems within.
Because now, more than ever, Sevilla’s situation is proof of how reliant the club is on Monchi doing wonders. Season after season he ensured that Sevilla buy cheap to then sell at a high price, while staying competitive. Yet some of that “Monchi magic” has faded away. A second layer that’s also beginning to come off.
Many of his summer signings have been quite the disappointment. Starting off with Isco, who despite being Lopetegui’s petition, was approved by Monchi and is now no longer part of the club after just over 4 months. Same goes for Kasper Dolberg who’s departure was as unnoticed as his input on the pitch.
Other names stand out such as Adnan Januzaj, with a shocking 47 minutes played so far in LaLiga, or Marcão who spent more time in the sidelines than on the pitch due to injuries.
Yet Monchi has more credit than anybody else in the club, for what he’s done in the past and what he symbolises. But now he’ll have to redeem himself in this upcoming transfer window if he wants to avoid having more supporters questioning his methods.
This leaves the final layer, named José Castro. His financial mismanagement as president of the club has forced Monchi to sell quality players such as Joules Koundé or Diego Carlos.
It’s true that many clubs are still recovering from the impact COVID-19 had on their wallets, yet Sevilla were a tad too optimistic last season, expecting to earn over 80 million euros. Reality struck hard when they fell short in the UCL after being knocked out sooner than expected and then disappointing in the Europa League. This ultimately forced them to sell Diego Carlos, for starters.
This has led the team into a negative spiral, affecting the club at all levels. Monchi, Sampaoli and the players will need to find inspiration in 2023 while the board tries to calm their shareholders and supporters, while readdressing the institutions financial situation.