| Sevilla Surprise?
espagne Par Consultant Yugo - Sinitch Euphoric (autres articles du même auteur) Nov 14, 2009 - 8:30:26 PM |
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This year, the ranks of the top European leagues are
fairly tight so far, including in Spain, which is – for the surprisingly
significant amount of talent in contention for glory – generally in the end a
two-team affair between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Some might even venture to
say that Spain is in danger of emulating the debilitating predictability of the
Scottish league. Do those words resonate of bad faith, a bit like some French
journalists trying to compensate for the poor form of French clubs in Europe?
In fact they come from none other than the famed Monchi, otherwise known as
Ramon Rodriguez, sporting director of Sevilla FC, who recently underscored the
real danger of this eventuality if other Spanish teams did not step up their
game. And yet these words are not borne out of despair, because far away from
all the glamour, noise and the glitz accompanying the players, their wags, the twelfth man,
stadiums, presidents, board members and other key and marginal features of the
modern game, there shines a hidden gem in la Liga. Perhaps not so much for
those in the know, but certainly for the greater public used to the
pre-packaged ready-serve aristocracy of European football that typically makes
up a mundane local Sunday afternoon footie summary. That gem is the football
club of Sevilla.
Interestingly, it seems that this is a corner of
Europe that has been overlooked from various perspectives and not just in
relation to football, which is surprising given the quality of the place. Abundant in historical and cultural
riches, a friendly and apparently tolerant place, sunny and warm, large but
accessible, the former capital of the Moor empire of Andalusia could be
forgiven for growing a bigger head, and notably in football. Not many can boast
achieving such results – not least the 2 consecutive wins of the UEFA Cup in
2005-2006 and 2006-2007 – but also a surprisingly consistent all-round track
record in recent years, seemingly flying in the face of the logic of the club's
apparent position in the hierarchy of Spanish and European football. Informed
specialists would point to an uneventful history (bereft of any significant
achievements since the 1940s) and distant location on the edge of Spain &
Europe, potentially problematic from an economic standpoint. But perhaps the
most significant and contradictory factor in relation to this recent stellar
form that one would expect to exert significant influence – from a technical
standpoint – are the departures of significant players who contributed to
important club milestones. It is worth listing those names (and where they went
to) just to remind of the extent of the quality that has been groomed and
brought to light at Sevilla: Antonio Reyes (to Arsenal), Julio Baptista (to
Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (to Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (to Barcelona),
Seydou Keita (to Barcelona) and, to a lesser extent, Poulsen (to Juventus). All
of these players contributed to the club's successes and though their
subsequent moves onto "bigger clubs" and accompanying bigger salaries
did not in every case result in further great achievements or personal glory,
their individual quality cannot be disputed.
Maria Suarez, une sévillane qui soutient son club
So now that it is in its second participation in the
Champions League and already qualified for the next stage of first knock-out
round (1/16 finals), we can agree that Sevilla is no one hit wonder. Not only
has it maintained its competitive edge over these recent years, but continues
to produce an exciting brand of daring football, fundamentally founded in the
spirit of attacking play and therefore supremely entertaining. All this is the
product of several key factors that have served to form a strong foundation
allowing the club to flourish:
Luis e Fabuloso
1. The strong presidency provided by José María del
Nido since 2001 has allowed the club to eliminate previous debts (notably via
the sales of some of the afore mentioned key players) and implement a new
strategy that is composed of the following other ingredients below.
2. A fruitful football academy, known as the
"Factoria de la Carretera de Utrera" (the factory from Utrera street)
which has overseen the development of the likes of Jose Antonio Reyes, Sergio
Ramos, Diego Capel, Jesús Navas, and the late Antonio Puerta. This year the
world has witnessed the talent of Diego Perotti, another attacking winger of
the Capel/Navas mould, whose impact was particularly important in the win
against Real Madrid in October. For those wanting a glimpse into the future, be
on the look out for three other such home-grown talents who performed well
mid-week in the cup against Atlético Ciudad de Murcia, attacker José Carlos and
defenders Marc Valiente & Manuel Redondo.
3. The keen eye and disciplined self-effacing role of chief recruiter and sporting director Monchi, whose reported web of 700 recruiters worldwide is the stuff of legends, has cleverly allowed the club to attract, develop and replace talented players on a continuous basis. Luis Fabiano (brought in from Porto after an unfruitful season in 2005) and Frédéric Kanouté (from Tottenham Spurs, also in 2005), perhaps the two most statistically significant recruits over the last few years, need no introduction any more, but the club continues to buy wisely. Monchi highlights the importance of working together with the first team coach, previously Juande Ramos and currently Manuel Jiménez, to identify and agree on players who fit the team's needs and add to the squad's overall quality. One fine example of such recruitment (along the lines of former fullback Daniel Alves) is the classic Brazlian-style attacking fullback Adriano Correia, scooped up from relatively modest Brazilian club of Coritiba in 2004. Another one would be Seydou Keita, who – after being attracted from French side Lens – impressed so much on the European stage while with Sevilla during the 2007-2008 season that he was subsequently immediately snapped up by the Catalonian giants. This year, the capture of Negredo, another one of Real Madrid's home talents (nurtured in the blancos' academy) deemed insufficiently galactic to be part of Pellegrini's travelling circus, has added options up front and the youngster has already made his mark on several occasions (as well as receiving his first international call-up).
4. In extension of points 2 and 3, the conviction
and willingness to make use of young talent and give budding talent enough time
on the pitch to develop and perform: in this respect Sevilla certainly deserve
just as much salivating over by professional journos and specialists as is
typically reserved by these gents for the equally formidable though recently
fruitless professor Wenger.
5. A spirit of play founded on attacking football,
notably the input of fast and technical wingers and fullbacks feeding deadly
crosses to the two header goal-scoring machines that are Fabiano and Kanouté.
6. Last but not least, a strong local support –
both financial and emotional – of the home crowd, led by the chants of the Biris (the ultras), the strength of whose
commitment - from the young to the old present (and the crowd was truly diverse, a real family feel) - I was able to witness myself last Sunday during the game against
Villarreal
(click on YouTube link at 1min 30secs for goal:
It is probably also pertinent to mention the existence
and contribution of Sevilla's team of twelve psychologists, headed by Miguel
Ángel Gómez, whose work focuses on the control of nerves, depression, anger
management, self-belief, and visualisation of success. This factor appears
particularly relevant in today's age of big brother sports media, permanently
threatening to drown its supposed heroes in the cocktail of unattainable
politically correct moral attributes and the culture of preordained success. As
the whole of Europe reels from the tragic suicide of Germany's and Hanover's
goalkeeper Enke, we are reminded of the challenges that the actors of our
favourite sport have to go through sometimes. After all, Sevilla itself had to
deal with the loss of one's of its heroes, Antonio Puerta, which for a moment
during that season of 2006-2007 almost threatened to break the club's composure
in pursuit of its objectives.
L'entrée des artistes
The Sunday game was an interesting opportunity to witness first hand all of the above characteristics which I have been observing now for a little while, as well as reflect on the contrasting fortunes of Sevilla and another recent strong achiever, Villarreal. The proverbial yellow submarine's fortunes seem to have slumped this year as, with the exception of a few wins, the club is clearly struggling to cope with the departure of coach and spiritual daddy Pellegrini (in place since 2004) and significant player turnover, notably key goal-making and scoring players Nihat (lost to Besiktas), and Franco (West Ham). Sevilla too faced a similar challenge a couple of years ago after coach Juande Ramos was wooed by the pound-waving sirens of North London. Few, including this writer, had much faith in the incumbent manager Manuel Jiménez, before that the second team coach and a former talismanic local player. But the wily Spaniard has not only inherited the formidable machine described above, but has also enjoyed real empowerment from his president and has shown resilience, passion and determination. Sunday's game clearly evidenced the strengths of the current squad's game, but also some challenges.
The strengths:
1. The forwards:
Firstly, Luis Fabiano's form continues to impress since his charismatic and inspired leadership of the seleçao in June in South Africa. Sunday's double against Villarreal could have easily been a treble, such is the man's hunger, audacity and sheer talent. His game seems so well rounded with ample ability displayed in passing vision and skill of execution and deadly finishing (via heading or shooting) as well as, when occasionally in the role of the lonely target up front, cool ball control that allows the rest of the team to transition from defensive to attacking mode. His first goal of the night is a perfect illustration of all of the above, an unexpected yet academically precise control of a crossed ball (coming from the right) by the right foot to bring the ball down on the ground, followed by a light push by the left to position the ball for the strike, punctuated by delicious stroke of the tip of the left foot that sends the ball into the net underneath the oncoming goalkeeper. (click on YouTube link at 1min 30secs for goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0ix-tDO_8Y)
Secondly, Kanouté's inspirational comeback (from
recent injury) not only served to put the team in front with the Mali forward's
smashing header: his intelligence in positioning, generosity and availability
to assist the midfield in construction and ball recovery helped to close the
yawning gap that at moments had threatened to drown Sevilla and especially the
hard working but somewhat erratic Renato and Zokora. Both had been left
somewhat abandoned to cover a wide area in midfield created by Fabiano's and
Negredo's forward positioning as well as the attacking appetites of Perotti and
Jesús Navas.
La joie de Fabiano, Perotti et Kanouté, sur le but décisif de ce dernier
Negredo's performance on the night was fine too but
not quite the standard of the two veterans, who clearly enjoy playing together
and have a rapport built on mutual respect and support. The complicity of the
two men, evidenced in many a shoulder tap, hug or assistance in picking the
other one up after a fall, was endearing for its authenticity and spirit of
camaraderie so severely lacking in the many fantasy football sides of today.
2. The ability to play wide and the attacking support
of the wingers and fullbacks:
As mentioned above, it is through Sevilla's ranks that
Sergio Ramos and Daniel Alves made their marks on the world stage, arguably 2
of the most gifted fullbacks in the world today alongside Maicon. Adriano is
another fine specimen of the genre, although on Sunday the team started with
newcomer Sergio Sánchez (brought in from Espanyol) on the right and Fernando
Navarro on the left. With Jesús Navas and newcomer Perotti, as well as Diego
Capel as an option, Sevilla possesses a formidable goal-creating machine for
the two forward head-hunters Fabiano and Kanouté. All three of the goals on
Sunday came from centres arriving from crosses from the sides, one by Sánchez
and the other two by the terrific Adriano.
Beyond their technical prowess and physical stamina,
it is these players' courage in propelling the game forward, as well as skill
in switching positions (between winger and fullback role) when the
opportunities call for it that makes Sevilla so regular in scoring. While on
this outing Perotti and Navas did not evidence success statistically speaking –
partly due to the need to defend during difficult moments of the game – this
trait was clearly visible via the 5 players used on the wings. Most of all it is Adriano who
exemplified the best balance of these traits, alternating a mean pressing of
Villarreal's midfield and defense players, like a Gattuso on acid, with able
bending in of crosses like the spice boy in the days when he inspired movie
script writers.
3. The coaching
Manolo's timely introduction of Kanouté and Adriano in
the second half, and then Lolo for Luis Fabiano in the final 10 minutes to pack
the midfield and provide support to the tired Renato and Zokora, deserves
praise. Often one observes coaches hesitating to let go of the initial thesis
behind their starting 11, only to succumb in desperation to the total
abandonment of the plan in the dying moments of the game. Especially since both
Kanouté and Adriano were only just fit to return to competition, the relative
boldness of the coach's move to risk those players is all the greater.
Ca cogite dans la tête de Jimenez
Challenges and areas for improvement:
1. Central defense & the role of the defensive
midfielder
I will readily admit that I am somewhat à priori
biased to be critical of Escudé and Squillaci as, being a fairly typical
Genevois (citizen of Geneva) and of Serb origin to boot, I am generally of
anti-French pre-disposition. While their non-selection for Saturday's decider
against Ireland by Domenech is not necessarily a bad sign (given the French
coach's record), the two French central defenders are unlikely to feature in
anyone's dream 11. While sufficiently decisive on the night, E&S rarely
displayed the kind of authority that world class central defenders like Lucio
or Puyol command. Admittedly it's always going to be extremely difficult to
achieve defensive coherence in a squad that is as forward minded as Sevilla is.
In the absence of alternatives, a solution may exist in a more traditional and
disciplined defensive midfielder whose role would be more clearly demarcated
from that of the more creative/attacking midfielder like Renato. Examples would
be Mascherano (but with more brains, please), Cambiasso or even Sevilla's own former
"great Dane", Poulsen.
That this is a real problem was clearly evidence in
the progressive loss of control of the midfield and initiative which followed
Fabiano's first goal and which was further highlighted by the wonderful play
that constituted Villarreal's equaliser.
Following a lengthy spell of relative midfield chaos, a spinning high
ball from the defensive area was recovered by the boys in yellow, allowing
Pires and Eguren to link up in a textbook 1-2 on the edge of the Sevilla
penalty box and Pires to adroitly volley low into right corner of Palop's goal.
All this took place before the eyes of an apparently outclassed and awe-gazing
Sevilla back.
Moins un sousmarin et plus un bus, un Villarreal amoindri en visite à Séville
2. The linking role of the midfield players,
especially with the forwards
In the context of the initial 4-4-2 set-up, with
Fabiano and Negredo holding their forward positions, the flip side of the
forwards' impact was the significant weight placed on the shoulders of Renato
& Zokora. While they were not beyond criticism themselves, in the absolute they
were tasked with an unfair burden of ball recovery. Rarely did either of them
seem to be in real control of the ball and the movement of the team, spending
more time chasing Villarreal's players and the ball. The weight of this
responsibility was greatly eased with the introduction of Kanouté as commented
above, who showed a lot more willingness than either Negredo or Fabiano in
assisting in this task. Lolo's substitution added further comfort but one
wonders if such a squad – with one lone striker – would be as productive
upfront. While Jiménez will need to ponder the dilemma of how to make the
midfield more robust as Sevilla contemplates the first knock-out round,
observers of the game should be left marvelling at the gifted and central place
that Kanouté holds in Sevilla's system of play.
Le pressing de Kanouté
In conclusion, just like the amazing city, Sevilla's
current squad overall showcases great talent, flair and class, and particularly
in attack with the now classic Fabiano-Kanouté duo, where it has nothing to
envy other current power combos such as Ibra-Messi, Milito-Eto'o or
Anelka-Drogba. The challenge for the rest of the season will be in ensuring
that precious equilibrium and composure at the back, especially in front of
teams that know how to hold on to and make the ball run. If Pires, Capdevila
and Eguren were able to create such havoc and put Villarreal 1-2 up after the
re-start of the second half, one wonders if Sevilla would have come out on top
of Sunday's game if Senna and Santi Cazorla were also on the pitch for the
visitors. Some concerns are therefore pertinent in anticipation of the likely
opposition for the knock-out stages in Europe, as well as in la Liga's
forthcoming shockers against the still mighty as ever Barça and an increasingly
confident Valencia (for the return game). However there is a great spirit and
character in this squad, and this dramatic victory last Sunday, coupled with
the equally emotional win against Madrid in October, is testimony to that. We
certainly look forward to seeing this toro in the arena, creating new surprises
for the pompous and more established toreadors, draped in the pomp and shining
wares of their past glories.
