After an abysmal start to the 2022/23 season, Sevilla have parted ways with Julen Lopetegui.
The Spanish manager had a relatively successful three-year tenure in Seville, winning the Europa League once and taking the Rojiblancos to the UEFA Champions League in every season.
Although the Andalusian club had won the UEFA Europa League on a few occasions, they never really threatened Spain’s elite.
In the nine seasons before Lopetegui’s arrival, Sevilla had only finished in the top four on one occasion.
The former Real Madrid manager was responsible for turning the Nervionenses into a real force and taking them to the next echelon of Spanish football.
In addition to fantastic results, the 56-year-old manager also gave the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán a tactical identity.
Having previously managed the Spanish national team, Lopetegui reverted to the tactics that made Spain famous in the modern era.
With possession-focused and high-pressing tactics, Sevilla fought their way to the top.
However, after three years, these tactics became their own nemesis.
As Adam Scully explored in a recent tactical analysis here at Total Football Analysis, Lopetegui’s lack of flexibility resulted in predictable play and pliable pressing.
When Sevilla began flirting with the relegation zone after seven matches, the board decided it was enough.
Enter Jorge Sampaoli.
The Argentinian manager was the one responsible for Sevilla’s only top-four finish in the previous decade.
After Sevilla in 2016/17, Sampaoli managed Argentina, Santos, Atlético Mineiro, and Olympique de Marseille.
With the exception of Argentina, those were all successful and tactically fascinating stints.
A disciple of Marcelo Bielsa, Sampaoli has an incredible eye for detail and exhaustive tactics.
In a famous quote, he stated, “You need to adapt the tactics according to the players and the opponent, but I will not compromise my ideas and style when trying to play a superior game.”
This tactical analysis provides detailed insight into Jorge Sampaoli’s tactics as he begins his second stint at Sevilla.
More specifically, it focuses on how his teams play and previews how Sevilla might look under the Argentinian manager.
Jorge Sampaoli Style Of Play
Throughout his career, Jorge Sampaoli coaching style has demonstrated a philosophy completely opposite to Julen Lopetegui’s at Sevilla.
Similar to his famous quote mentioned above, the Casilda-born manager’s approach can be split into two sections.
First, his teams are characterised by their tactical flexibility.
Sampaoli constantly adapts to both his players and the opponents.
The structure and specifics of his tactics change from game to game and team to team.
This represents Sampaolis incredible eye for detail, which is similar to his compatriot Bielsa.
The second section of his style contains non-negotiable principles and ideas that guide this flexibility and rotation.
The former Marseille manager has principles he refuses to compromise as he always wants his teams to be superior.
These are constant and guide whichever structure or formation he chooses.
This tactical analysis will in depth examine Sampaoli’s systems and principles in and out of possession.
Afterwards, considering his first match in charge against Athletic Bilbao, we will explore how Sevilla might look under the Argentinian.
At any rate, this Sevilla squad will need to adapt.
For three years under Lopetegui, they were used to a highly contrasting philosophy.
The Spanish manager lacked adaptability and flexibility, ultimately leading to his downfall.
In the 2021/22 season, the Rojiblancos stuck to a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 for more than two-thirds of the time.
In addition to the structure, the strategy in possession was extremely predictable after a few seasons.
Jorge is the antidote to this.
In the 2021/22 season, his Marseille side used 12 different formations.
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