There is no shame in losing to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, as they did on Tuesday night in Cardiff – especially with the immeasurable talent Los Merengues wield. The important thing though, is that Coach Unai Emery enjoyed a fruitful summer in the transfer market.
The 42 year old needed to however, because winning the Europa League last season may have brought great joy in Seville but meant big clubs would covet their star players.
Just like last season, where they lost Alvaro Negredo along with Jesus Navas to Manchester City and Geoffrey Kondogbia to Monaco, Los Rojiblancos would sell their key assets. Their star player and captain last season Ivan Rakitic has be sold to Barcelona for €18m while promising left back Alberto Moreno, brought up from their cantera, has gone to Liverpool for €15m.
However, Emery has done well to combat these losses by making shrewd acquisitions to his squad. Sevilla’s largest outlay in the transfer market has been towards defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak for €4.5m. The 24 year old will be seen as a replacement for Stephane Mbia who heads back to his club QPR after his loan spell last season. The Polish midfielder will be deployed as the anchorman in midfield tasked to protect the back four so to disrupt opposition attacks.
Winger Aleix Vidal, whose six goals and five assists last season helped save Almeria from relegation, has been acquired for €3m. Moreover, the loan spells of Nicolas Pareja from Spartak Moscow and Daniel Carrico from Reading have been made permanent. Pareja cost €2.5m while Sevilla would pay less than €2m for Carrico.
It has been loan signings though, that have been the crux of Emery’s transfer strategy, using it to further bolster his attack. Iago Aspas has returned to Spain after an under whelming season at Liverpool joining Sevilla on a season long loan in the hope to rediscover his form when at Celta Vigo.
Emery has also used Barcelona’s famous products of La Masia to bolster Sevilla’s attacking options. Denis Suarez has arrived on loan in a two-year deal, stemming as a result of deal to bring Ivan Rakitic to Barcelona, with the 20 year old showing his burgeoning talents in the Super Cup on Tuesday night. He looked assured, unruffled and looked to get forward whenever Sevilla attacked. The loan move will help Suarez develop his game and get exposure in La Liga but also in the Europa League.
In addition, the season-long signing of Gerard Deulofeu is a coup, as he was impressive on loan with Everton last season. However, Barcelona Manager Luis Enrique feels after seeing Deulofeu in pre-season, he is not ready for first team action at Camp Nou. His loan spell at Sevilla is a chance to show Luis Enrique what he can do.
These signings make Los Rojiblancos’ attack fearsome. Carlos Bacca, Kevin Gameiro, Jose Antonio Reyes and Vitolo give it further depth. But the key question is can Emery utilize the attacking talent at his disposal and importantly will their defence hold firm? A good attack is only as good as their defence with the fortunes of that back four determining whether Sevilla achieve Champions League qualification.
But we will see come May if Los Rojiblancos can fulfil their potential.
