Sevilla pin hopes on Nianzou again as defensive crisis deepens
With Sevilla leaking goals at an alarming rate, the club are desperately hoping injury-plagued Tanguy Nianzou can finally deliver on his potential.
Sevilla’s defensive woes have reached breaking point as they’ve shipped a league-worst 37 goals this season, leaving the Andalusian club scrambling for solutions while pinning fresh hopes on their perpetually injured French defender.
Defensive Disaster Class
The numbers don’t lie - Sevilla are currently La Liga’s leakiest defence, with 37 goals conceded in what’s becoming a proper nightmare at the back. Manager Matías Almeyda has been throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, trying different formations and rotating through nine different centre-backs already this season.
Despite this defensive mare, the January transfer window came and went without significant reinforcements, bar swapping Ramón Martínez for Federico Gattoni. The club’s financial constraints played a part, but so did their already bloated roster of central defenders, even after Marcao’s serious injury setback.
The Nianzou Conundrum
Sporting Director Antonio Cordón has made it clear the club’s strategy involves getting injured players back rather than splashing cash they don’t have. Chief among these returning hopes is Tanguy Nianzou, the talented but perennially crocked Frenchman whose Sevilla career has been one long stint in the treatment room.
The numbers are frankly shocking:
- Nine months out last season
- Another muscle injury in pre-season
- Missed 18 matches already this campaign
- Just 7 appearances all season (2W, 2D, 3L)
- 113 official matches missed since joining in summer 2022
- 82 of those absences due to injuries
The Waiting Game
Despite his injury record, Sevilla’s brass still believe Nianzou is their best defender when fit. Cordón remains optimistic, noting: “Nobody in Europe doubts his quality” while suggesting the Frenchman could return to the squad this Saturday.
With a contract running until 2027 and limited financial wiggle room, Sevilla have little choice but to keep the faith with their injury-prone defender. The club’s supporters have grown increasingly frustrated, particularly after Nianzou reportedly refused to take a pay cut when other teammates stepped up.
Cordón defended the player’s stance on wages: “When contracts are signed, they’re meant to be fulfilled.” Fair enough, but Sevilla fans might argue that actually playing football should be part of that bargain too.
For now, it’s another roll of the dice with Nianzou as Sevilla desperately try to plug the holes in their sinking defensive ship.