UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUERecently triumphant in their sixth
Europa League final, the Andalusians
truly are experts in winning continental
trophies. Proud of their100 per cent
record in European finals, Sevilla have
carved out a niche for themselves as a
new-millennium sensation, condensing
all their cross-frontier successes into the
last14 years. The Champions League,
however, has been a rather different
story for them, only involved in a half-
dozen campaigns and reaching the
quarter-finals just once, in 2017-18.
Sevilla, fourth in the last edition of
La Liga, come into the new campaign
on an emotional high. In the second
half of 2019-20, they were unstoppable,
remaining undefeated for 21 fixtures at
home and abroad. Great work by coach
Julen Lopetegui, who in his first season
in charge at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium,
managed to turn what was ostensibly a
period of transition into a match-winning
procession. Incredibly nine of his11
starters in August’s Europa League final
victory over Internazionale were new
to the club at the start of the season.
One of the most fascinating aspects
of the new campaign will be Sevilla’s
TheRoten Bullen, as ambitious as they
are lavishly funded, passed a crucial
milestone in their elite project last
term, reaching the semi-finals of the
Champions League for the first time in
their history. In victories against Zenit,
Tottenham and Atletico Madrid, the
Leipzigerverymuchlookedthepart
in the upper echelons of the European
game: tactically astute, unified and
compact, calm under pressure and
opportunistic in “big-point” moments.
Great work by boy wonder coachJulian
Nagelsmann, who at just 33, is now the
youngest boss to guide a team to the
Champions League last four.
The Saxon club have come a long
wayinashorttime.Theyhavejust16
Champions League fixtures under their
belt and last season was only their
second campaign in the competition.
It’s worth noting that in their inaugural
appointment with the Euro big boys in
2017-18, they did not even qualify from
the group phase. “It’s been a crazy
journey,” says Nagelsmann. Sensible
decision-making, sound planning and
continuity have been the watchwords
of the RB success story. Sticking to a
clear philosophy – concentrating on
SEVILLA
Europa League specialists to step up?the recruitment of young talents and
employing a fast-paced, direct playing
style – they have built step-by-step.
What’s remarkable is how little their
personnel has changed in recent times.
Of the group which beat Atletico Madrid
2-1 in the quarter-finals last campaign,
no fewer than seven of them featured
in the squad which won promotion to
the Bundesliga back in 2016.Has the sale of Timo Werner
damaged them irreparably?
Even the most optimistic RB fan would
have to admit that the departure to
Chelsea this summer of prolific striker
Werner leaves a major void in attack.
Newly-signed frontrunners, South Korea’s
Hwang Hee-chan (ex-Salzburg) and
Alexander Sorloth (Crystal Palace and
Trabzonspor) have a hard act to follow.What are the basic principles
of Nagelsmann’s philosophy?
He espouses all the tenets of a modern
21st century coach: the Klopp-like
obsession with an intense high press,
tactical flexibility, and rapid attacking
transitions aiming to arrive in the
opposition box in a matter of seconds.In which area has RB improved?
What their 2019-20 Champions
League run underlined was the
strides they have made in the art of
keeping possession. Nagelsmann has
developed a sort of collective awakening,
with slicker combination play, more
support options and most important
of all, a lot more patience. Their many
youngsters are finally growing up.response to the departure of influential
playmaker Ever Banega to Saudi side Al
Shabab. In two spells over five seasons,
the diminutive Banega was the man who
made them tick. Also making an exit was
fast-improving young left-back Sergio
Reguilon, who now features for Spurs.
After six years starring at Barcelona,
versatile Croatian link-man Ivan Rakitic
is back for a second tour of duty here.How important is director of sport
Monchi to the well-being of the club?
Without their famous transfer wizard,
Sevilla arguably would be far removed
from the European top table. In 2019 he
performed a minor miracle, overseeing a
whirlwind of transfer market activity –17
buys and even more departures - and
still laying the foundations for success.Who’s the biggest mystery to the fans?
That would be Dutch target man Luuk de
Jong. Often decried for a lack of technique,
the much-travelled striker (ex-Twente,
Gladbach, Newcastle and PSV) had the
last laugh in the Europa League last term,
scoring the winner in the semi-final versus
Manchester United and adding two more
in the final victory over Internazionale.Who could be their secret weapon?
Versatile attacker Munir El Haddadi, who
is comfortable in a variety of front-line
roles and often decisive when coming on
as a substitute. Once regarded as one of
Barcelona’s most promising youngsters,
the 25-year-old Spanish-Moroccan has
yet to make that top-level breakthrough,
but the raw material is there.RB LEIPZIG
Continuing to make rapid progress
Superstar...Can
Ocampos repeat
last season’s
heroics?COACH
Julian Nagelsmann
The bright young
thing of European
football strategists,
he even gave wily
Atletico boss Diego
Simeone a lesson in
tactical chess during
a Champions League
face-off last season.
He’ll be in charge at
Bayern or a leading
Premier League
outfit one day soon.
KEYMAN
Kevin Kampl
The 30-year-old
Slovenian central
midfielder is not only
the oldest outfield
player in the Leipzig
side; he is the most
influential. Dynamic,
feisty, excellent in
his distribution and
arealleader.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Tyler Adams
USA international
defensive midfielder
who popped up with
the winner v Atletico.
Nagelsmann thinks
he may be suited to a
central defensive role.COACH
Julen Lopetegui
Once a reserve team
goalkeeper at Real
Madrid, the Basque
has bounced back
remarkably at Sevilla
after a nightmarish
2018, when, in the
spaceofjustfive
months, he lost two
dream jobs, dumped
by both the Spanish
national team and
Real Madrid.
KEYMAN
Lucas Ocampos
Fiery, totally-
committedArgentine
winger, who enjoyed
a superb inaugural
season with Sevilla in
2019-20, emerging
as a fine taker
of chances.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Oscar Rodriguez
Gifted young
attacking midfielder
acquired earlier this
summer from Real
Madrid. On loan at
Leganes for the past
two campaigns.Hwang...Ready to
fill Werner’s void