The latest Wolves news from BirminghamLive includes the bizarre evening awaiting Julen Lopetegui.
Sevilla boss set for dramatic Wolves move decision
Julen Lopetegui is preparing Sevilla for a huge Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund this evening – but he might not be their manager tomorrow, Alex Dicken of Birmingham Live writes.
The former Spain and Real Madrid manager is playing the lead role in a bizarre story that could end with him in the Wolverhampton Wanderers dugout. Before then, though, Lopetegui will take charge of Sevilla for the 170th time.
Sevilla needs a victory to revive their chances of making the last-16 of the Champions League. A heavy defeat to Manchester City, coupled with their failure to beat Copenhagen, has left Sevilla bottom of Group G.
Their form in La Liga hasn’t been any better either. Having finished fourth in each of Lopetegui’s first three seasons in charge, Sevilla is 17th in this one, having won once in seven matches.
Like Bruno Lage was with Wolves, Lopetegui will be the fall guy in Seville. According to various reports in Spain, Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli is waiting to replace him.
There has been sympathy for Lopetegui’s plight in the Spanish press, with one article published by Marca titled ‘Lopetegui, an example of Seville’ suggesting the coach deserved a more dignified ending.
Mario Cortegana of Marca writes: “Despite the constant noise, from June 2019 to this October, Lopetegui has become the coach with the highest score in the history of Sevilla in a League, has lifted a Europa League, and has qualified the club for the first time for three consecutive editions of the Champions.
“He doesn’t deserve this. He does not deserve friendly fire for the entity’s civil war. He does not deserve to be the one sacrificed by a looted squad after a disastrous market, the result of immobility and improvisation. You don’t deserve to go to work with the expiration date on the label, like a yogurt. He does not deserve to step on the Pizjuán, more salt in the wound, knowing that his substitute is in the city.”
