As Sevilla boss assures his bench warmers of more playing time in Del Rey
By Ed Emeanua
Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho stands to profit from Sevilla FC boss Xavi García Pimienta’s decision to hand his bench warmers playing time on Thursday to boost their productivity and confidence.
Unió Esportiva Olot plays in Segunda Federación – Group 3 and hosts La Liga giants Sevilla in a Copa del Rey second round fixture with the kick-off time of 21:00 local time.
The Nigerian is perhaps manager Pimienta’s most famous bench warmers this season boasting of just 4 starts and three substituted appearances in Spain’s elite league.
Iheanacho has logged-in 355′ of La Liga action and 90′ in the Copa segment for a total of 455′ all time this season.
Speaking ahead of the cup tie against UE Olot tomorrow Pimienta told Sevilla FC News that: “It is a very difficult game. Yesterday we saw the first surprise of the round with Espanyol being knocked out.
“Apart from Celta who won comfortably, for the others it was not straightforward. They are an opponent from Segunda RFEF (fourth tier) with some players that I know and a coach who is a close friend and is very good.
“They are going to play in front of their fans and it will be very difficult. We need to approach the match with concentration and intensity because if not it will be difficult. It is a knockout tie and there is no room for error.
“There will be players who have not been playing as many minutes and they will play tomorrow because they are ready. We face it with excitement and responsibility, knowing the difficulty.”
Iheanacho has not scored a La Liga goal since debuting against Villareal on August 23 in Spain’s elite championship. His only goals so far in Spanish football was a brace he scored against Las Rozas CF in the Copa on October 30.
Incidentally, the Nigerian is listed as Sevilla’s top scorer in this season’s Copa Del Rey thanks to his brace against Las Rozas in the first round.
‘Senior man’ shares the reputation with defender Joaquin Peñalver of Olot who has scored the opponent’s lone goal in the competition so far.
Both teams’ top goalscorer in the Copa Del Rey are also the featured attraction in posters promoting the game.
The game comes up at the Estadi Municipal d’Olot.
