Gudelj slams refs: 'Sevilla deserve more respect' as relegation dogfight intensifies
Sevilla captain Nemanja Gudelj has voiced frustration over officiating standards, claiming the Andalusian club receives less respect than other La Liga sides.
Sevilla’s captain isn’t mincing his words about the men in black as his side prepare for what he calls a series of ‘finals’ in their battle to avoid the drop.
‘Disrespected’ by officials
Nemanja Gudelj has come out swinging with some proper strong opinions on how Sevilla are being treated by La Liga referees this season. The Serbian international, speaking ahead of Saturday’s crucial home fixture against Alavés, believes there’s been a clear pattern of disrespect toward the Andalusian outfit.
“There have been several situations where we’ve been shown a bit of disrespect,” Gudelj stated, echoing sentiments previously expressed by manager Almeyda and teammate Kike.
The 32-year-old didn’t hold back, suggesting Sevilla are getting the short end of the stick compared to other clubs:
“I’ve noticed this season, and I’ve spoken a lot with referees, that there are many questionable decisions where the coin often falls on the other side, and that bothers me.”
All hands on deck for survival
With Sevilla currently locked in a relegation scrap that few would have predicted for the six-time Europa League winners, Gudelj insists the squad is focused on turning things around:
- Training intensely to correct defensive issues
- Welcoming back previously injured players
- Building on a “very good” relationship with manager Almeyda
“Now for us, every match is a final,” explained Gudelj, who’s been at the club for seven years and experienced both the highs and lows of Spanish football.
Captain calls for unity
The bread and butter of Sevilla’s survival hopes may well depend on recreating the fortress-like atmosphere at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán that’s intimidated visitors for years.
Gudelj made a passionate appeal to supporters: “As captain, what I want to ask for Saturday is maximum support. It doesn’t matter how the match starts or if we take a blow, we need Sevilla fans at full throttle for 90 minutes.”
While understanding fan frustration – including recent protests against the club president – Gudelj emphasized that “when fans and team unite at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, no team passes through easily.”
For a club that’s spent most of the past decade competing in Europe, the current predicament is a proper kick in the Khyber. But their skipper remains adamant they’ll return to where they belong – just as soon as they sort out their current troubles.