Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui refused to condemn the booing of fans against Manchester United’s loanee Anthony Martial.
Sevilla lost 1-0 to Barcelona last weekend and they are currently witnessing their worst goalscoring streak in 20 years. AS report that the Spanish said have scored just once in their last four games, and two in the last six, which is their worst streak in front of goal since 2002.
So-called supporters expressed their frustration at Martial during the game and jeered him.
When asked about Martial being booed by Sevilla fans, Lopetegui told reporters (via Goal): “This is elite football and people are free and can express themselves as they feel. As a coach, I have to help him to achieve his best version. He is also a professional and has to do his part and adapt to what we ask of him.”
I would not go as far as to say Lopetegui is throwing Martial under the bus, but maybe he is considering how Sevilla play football under the former Spain manager. They are not very creative and tend to be rather defensive, so a player like Martial is always going to struggle in that system.
All of this seems harsh on Martial, but he hasn’t hit the ground running in Spain, with reports that Sevilla won’t be keeping him beyond this season.
The France international has scored just once since joining Sevilla on loan in January.
And, to make matters worse, Sevilla has slipped from second place to fourth since he joined the club.
I am not sorry for him! He deserves everything he gets there!