MADRID, 5 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Sevilla’s coach, Jorge Sampaoli, acknowledged that they were greatly surpassed by FC Barcelona this Sunday at the Camp Nou, in a delicate situation because they did not find “the game” and were at the mercy of the rival without “controlling the ball”.
“We wanted to refresh the upper part a bit because En-Nesyri was very far from the rival goal and we wanted Rakitic to allow us more play,” he said in statements to the club’s media, after the 3-0 defeat on matchday 20 of League.
The Argentine coach thus explained the changes in the second half to try to improve a first half in which they could barely leave their field. “In the first half we held well, but we ran a lot after the ball. We wanted to control the ball more, but they found the spaces and had the success that they didn’t have in the first half,” he said.
However, the changes did not work for Sevilla nor did they have any option against a Barça that stopped the Andalusian reaction. “When you can’t find the game, it’s very complex. You can hold out for a while, but your legs are running out and they find more space,” he said, after losing after two victories.
In addition, Sampaoli pointed to the possible loss of an Acuña who was substituted in the second half. “It must be an adductor issue,” he said of his compatriot, before focusing on “working and improving.”