Sevilla

Manolo Jimenez: Sevilla’s UEFA Cup Elimination Unjust

A stunned and disappointed Manolo Jimenez did not hide any attempts to vent his frustration after Sevilla were knocked out of the UEFA Cup.

19 Dec 2008 01:31:28

Sevilla coach, Manolo Jiménez yells at his players in frustration as he watches his team stumble to yet another defeat, this time to Standard Liege in the UEFA Cup (Marca)

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Manolo Jiménez

Sevilla went into last night’s final UEFA Cup group game at Sampdoria needing just a draw to book a ticket to the last 32.

But the in-form Andalucian side crashed to a surprise 1-0 defeat, effectively sending them down to fourth place in Group C and out of the competition. And coach, Manolo Jimenez was livid after the game.

“The 1-0 loss is an extremely unfair result, but this is football,” he said during the press conference.

“I am disappointed. I believe that no team deserved to win tonight but there was always a risk that we would concede. And we conceded in the dumbest way possible,” Jimenez added, referring to Jonathan Bottinelli’s 75^th minute goal when he bundle the ball over the line with his chest.

“We knew very clearly we had to score a goal. We did not have luck and against an Italian team, there’s always the danger that they would score and when they did, the game was over.

“We had enough points to advance but we were unable to score. We played well on the ball but we just did not create enough chances.

“But I have to congratulate Sampdoria. They are a difficult rival who plays very hard and they do not allow you to play,” he concluded.

KS Leong, Goal.com