The Basque coach steps into European football with a historic bench behind him, a night at Old Trafford that carries a clear message: he didn’t just stumble into this moment by luck.
José Luis Mendilibar prepares for a very special evening this Thursday. The Basque manager will make his first appearance in European competition after more than two decades on the bench, and the setting couldn’t be more demanding: Old Trafford, against Manchester United, in a full UEFA Europa League quarter-final glare.
The coach understands the buzz surrounding the clash and his role on the bench after succeeding Jorge Sampaoli a few weeks back. Yet, in the press conference, Mendilibar kept the focus on merit and the chance he earned. “If I’m here, it means I earned the trust of those who hired me,” he said. “I must have done something right to be on the edge of a stage like Old Trafford.”
From Zaldibar, the trainer has accumulated 526 matches in professional football, often thrilling audiences with his teams’ attacking spirit at clubs like Eibar, Valladolid, and Osasuna. Since joining Sevilla, he has helped transform the squad into a tighter, more aggressive unit. His first performances in charge delivered four points from six in the opening two games, and he set about restoring focus, reducing unforced errors, and restoring a sharper competitive edge.
He isn’t planning to tour Manchester as a spectator. The upcoming two legs aren’t a farewell to European nights, but a real test against a United side that has not tasted defeat at home since September. “We must challenge them with our own strengths, not just react to them,” Mendilibar asserted. “Yes, United has excellent players, but Sevilla knows how to manage these kinds of ties. We intend to compete from the outset. Our approach in England will mirror LaLiga realism: disciplined, organized, and capable of playing on the front foot when the moment calls for it.”
There is no avoiding the tension of Sevilla’s uncertain position in LaLiga, yet Mendilibar maintains a pragmatic focus. He believes the best route to securing points in the Mestalla against Valencia lies in taking the fight to United on neutral soil. “We must stay concentrated on the task at hand and keep the collective commitment high,” he explained. “The group is growing more unified around the plan we ask of them.”
Across the club, staff and supporters alike sense that this is more than a match; it is a turning point in how Sevilla approaches European nights under new leadership. The challenge is not merely to survive the tie but to dictate the tempo when possible, to seize moments, and to convert opportunities into tangible results. Mendilibar’s philosophy—tightly knit defense, quick transitions, and relentless pressure when possession is won—will be tested against a side famed for balance and depth. The arena will be packed, and the atmosphere will be electric, but the coach remains steady, focused on the process rather than the spectacle. The objective is clear: fight for every chance, defend with conviction, and trust the group’s growing chemistry to yield an outcome that keeps Sevilla’s European dreams alive. The journey continues, no matter the scoreboard, as the club chases a path back to the heart of continental competition. [Goal]