Almeyda: 'If I have to be on the outside to win, I won't come back'
Matías Almeyda speaks out after Sevilla's 1-0 win at Getafe, addressing his touchline ban and the upcoming Seville derby.
Sevilla nicked a vital three points at Getafe on Saturday, winning 1-0 in a scrappy affair that only really opened up after the home side went down to ten men — and Matías Almeyda, watching from the stands due to his touchline ban, had plenty to say about it afterwards.
The Game Itself
Almeyda was honest about the first half — Sevilla weren’t exactly setting the world alight before Getafe’s red card changed the complexion of things. Once it did, the substitutions did their job and the goal came from the resulting tactical shift. Not pretty, but three points on the road in La Liga is three points on the road in La Liga. Job done.
A few bits worth flagging from his post-match:
- Nianzou was left out due to the number of Sevilla players already on bookings — a squad management call rather than anything more dramatic.
- Suazo came off not just because of the knock he took, but because the game demanded something more attacking at that point.
- Januzaj got some minutes and Almeyda was genuinely chuffed with how he performed — the boss says he’s been working to get the Belgian back to his best since arriving, and reckons today was a step in the right direction.
Watching From the Stands
This is where it gets interesting. Almeyda was asked about the experience of managing from outside the dugout, and while he kept it fairly measured, you could tell it’s not exactly his idea of a good time. He’s a hands-on manager — he said himself he’s a coach who likes being on the pitch, not operating from a distance.
He spoke warmly about assistant Javi Martínez and the trust he has in his staff, but made it clear this arrangement isn’t something he’s comfortable with long-term. Which brings us to the quote everyone’s talking about.
The Touchline Ban Comment
Almeyda’s appeal is ongoing, but he’s essentially drawn a line under it mentally. His attitude? The club’s handling it, but he’s moved on emotionally. Most tellingly, he said: “If I have to be on the outside to win, I won’t come back.”
Make of that what you will. It reads as defiance more than anything — he’s not about to let the ban define him or his methods. Whether the appeal succeeds or not, he’s not changing his approach.
Derby on the Horizon
With the Seville derby coming up next, Almeyda was keen to let the squad enjoy this one first before shifting focus. Given everything Sevilla have been through — injuries, suspensions, a rollercoaster of results — he felt they’d earned a moment to breathe.
Javi Martínez Holds It Together
Credit where it’s due to the assistant manager, who handled the dugout duties with a cool head. Javi was gracious in his own post-match comments, making clear his sole mission is to get Almeyda back on that touchline as soon as possible. He also noted that Sevilla have been drawing a lot more in the second half of the season than the first — not ideal, but he argued those points will look more valuable come the end of the campaign, especially against direct rivals.
All in all, a proper gritty away win. Sevilla aren’t always pretty right now, but they’re finding ways to grind it out. With a derby next up, the timing couldn’t be better.