The Argentina coach failed in the initial approach against Osasuna and lacked the composure to manage the final minutes that cost him defeat.
Seville is in trouble again. After collecting only one point from the last six against Rayo and Osasuna, the Nervión club finds itself once more threatening the relegation zone just when it looked like a reprieve could be possible. The upcoming clash with the Navarre side would reveal whether Sampaoli’s project should bend toward recovery or further decline, and the team will likely have to fight hard to claw back its standings.
The Argentinian coach’s plan did not work from the start. Playing with three central defenders without specialists in the rear line, especially with Loic Bade out through injury, has raised doubt about Seville’s defensive shape. The absence of a true central stopper has left the back line exposed and the entire balance of the team unsettled.
He’s not dominating his area again with too many players out of place
Osasuna’s wing play carved through Sevilla’s lines, and the visitors’ forwards found little resistance when opportunities arose. Without a settled central defense pairing, Sevillistas struggle to command their defensive zone. When Fernando isn’t stationed centrally, his ability to receive and distribute the ball, plus his capacity to disrupt opponents, is hindered. With a long suspension looming for Gueye on the 20th, the manager may need him to step forward as a pivot, while Rekik and Bade must return to action as soon as possible.
There’s a case to rethink the use of three central defenders, at least until Marcao recovers and more effective options become available. This is why the departures of Carmona and Kike Salas might have made sense if the plan required a back three, even though those exits could be part of winter reinforcements being registered.
Bryan Gil’s stint as a winger hasn’t yielded the hoped-for benefits in either attack or cover, leaving the winger frustrated and distant from the box for large stretches. The late substitutions looked almost surreal: Telles replaced Montiel at left center-back, surrendering Sevilla’s most dangerous attacking outlet in the final minutes, while Jesús Navas faced a similar fate in the broader game plan.
Lack of rest, legs and disconnected players
That double substitution showed a manager who fears defeat more than he embraces victory. The changes did not produce the intended effect, and Sevilla dissolved unevenly. The draw in the match wasn’t poor, yet the team failed to push Fernando to press higher to win or to adapt after losing Navas in attack and placing Telles in central defense.
Several players are showing signs of fatigue after multiple starts in a short span. The squad’s core is feeling the strain, and rotations that once kept the group fresh are now essential to avoid a total breakdown. In Vallecas, Rafa Mir missed a chance to re-enter the lineup, and against Osasuna the same happened to Erik Lamela, who quickly ceded his spot to Suso as Seville’s best moments began to emerge again.
Despite the rolling challenges, the defeat against Osasuna should not be read as a verdict on Sampaoli’s broader project. Individual errors, some outside the coach’s control, and the squad’s existing limitations played a part as Seville faced a highly demanding, very competitive moment. En Nesyri, meanwhile, remains a constant threat and a reminder of what the team can still achieve when everything lines up.
Until the Moroccan impact is assessed, the schedule is rebalanced between midfield and defense to restore some stability at the back. The return of injured players and a clearer tactical approach will be essential for Seville to push toward safety in a campaign that already appears extraordinarily costly in its stakes for the club and its supporters.