Sevilla Coach Unai Emery has conceded that in hindsight, his decision to substitute Kevin Gameiro against Valencia was incorrect.
The tactician was criticised after Los Nervionenses’ eventual 3-1 defeat at Mestalla on Sunday evening for pulling off the striker for defensive midfielder Sebastian Cristoforo when the score was 1-1.
Club President Jose Maria del Nido yesterday also labelled the decision as questionable and the Coach has since conceded his error.
“The situation for a Coach is to make decisions and sometimes these decisions are easier or more difficult, more risky,” reflected Emery in his pre-match address.
“There is a reading for Sunday’s game. The team had equalised. Gameiro was playing a good game, but the midfield was not controlled.
“We decided we had to strengthen the midfield and in how to do so, that was the difficulty. In the game against Barcelona, Marko Marin came close to making it 3-2 to us and against Estoril he was more or less there.
“It was between him and Gameiro, who was playing a good game and it was an injustice to him. That decision made sense, but I do not live outside of reality, I have enough humility to recognise that this did not work out.
“But that does not mean that I had did not have my reasons for keeping Marin on. I spoke with Gameiro in the dressing room afterwards and the player is mature enough to know that it may hurt, but we thought it was best.
“A player who is scoring goals will not lose his place.”
Sevilla are enduring a worst start to a League season in over 50 years.
“Every time we lose it is complicated, but I feel confident, but that confidence is needed, and it is needed for the team to go on the pitch and do what is intended, to be strong…
“On Sunday we were all hurting, some of us have never been in last place. These are situations that the footballers are hurt for.
“We know that it is necessary to win, we have confidence in the dressing room, that we can polish those doubts as to what we are doing, more so than thinking about whether we can win [tonight] or next Saturday.
“It is also important to convey to the team that what we have is enough to avoid making excuses and that we can recover, as the fans want.
“I believe that we have the competitiveness to make the team stronger.”
