“Odegard is very familiar with me from Madrid; he knows that I take the Champions League very seriously. Saka and Martinelli are too easy for me to handle.” Street fighter Sergio Ramos gives a combative press conference prior to Sevilla’s Champions League match against Arsenal tonight.
In the Champions League, Arsenal will play Sevilla and street fighter Sergio Ramos.
For the La Liga team playing back-to-back matches against Arsenal, a veteran defender will start.
A manager must have guts to let TV cameras into his dressing room. Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta was made to do so for an All Or Nothing documentary series, which later exposed some of his unusual methods of motivation to an unconvinced audience.
However, Arteta had received a warning. During the course of his team meetings during and after Sevilla’s 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, Diego Alonso, making his managerial debut in Europe, was ambushed by cameras and microphones from La Liga broadcasters.
After becoming Sevilla’s fourth coach in less than two years, Alonso came out of the close-ups and eavesdropping to offer compliments. He gave thrilling instructions prior to a match that he referred to as a “street fight,” and he showered his “brave” comrades with admiration.
In addition, Alonso received a significant video endorsement when Sevilla’s most famous warrior, Sergio Ramos, gave him an embrace.
On Tuesday, Ramos will play his 140th Champions League match against Arsenal, led by Arteta. After returning from South America, Alonso will sit out a Uefa competition for the first time in his career.
The new Sevilla manager needs to tread carefully when managing the experience gap between coach and player in order to maintain his own power and capitalize on Ramos and other group veterans.
Supporters did not all embrace Ramos’ return to Sevilla, where he started his senior professional career more than 20 years ago. There is no denying Ramos’ impact, even though he occasionally made crude gestures against Sevilla supporters during his 16-year tenure at Real Madrid.
All three points from the weekend could have been secured by a trademark Ramos header, but Madrid goalkeeper Kepa made a fantastic late save. Ramos had previously stopped a Madrid shot that was inches from the Sevilla goal.
Ramos’ return brings him back to a team that throughout his time away—mostly at Real Madrid and, more recently, for a two-season stint in Paris—established itself as one of football’s smartest operators at spotting talent and moving it on for a substantial profit.
But a glance at Sevilla, who currently hold the Europa League but are near the bottom of the Spanish rankings, shows that the tried-and-true method of finding exceptional players as they approach their peak has hit some rough patches.
Jose Luis Mendilibar, who depended heavily on old allies and was ousted after a poor start to the 2023–24 season, was replaced by Sevilla Alonso. When playing Arsenal, Ramos, 37, would probably line up in a defense with Jesus Navas, his contemporary. Ivan Rakitic, 35, played for Real Madrid and Manchester City before joining Sevilla for a second time.
Arteta, who is 41 years old, was around when Ramos scored his first La Liga goal against Real Sociedad, 19 autumns ago. Arteta is young enough to have played against both Ramos and Navas.
Ramos has a lengthy and distinguished career as the streetfighter center defender with the instincts of a target man striker and the legendary player who never gives up, with over a century of club goals to his credit.
Arsenal, who drew 2-2 with Chelsea on Saturday, will be urged by Arteta to watch Ramos in both penalty areas. He’ll be pushing his younger forwards to use their quick transitions to challenge the Sevilla seasoned players. Among Navas’s duties as a full-back will be to try to restrict 22-year-old Gabriel Martinelli.
Ramos may anticipate getting back in touch with Gabriel Jesus. The former Spain captain’s last encounter with Real Madrid came to an early end during a Champions League knockout match between Madrid and Jesus’ previous team, Manchester City, at the Bernabeu.
The defender fouled the Brazilian striker, earning Ramos his first of 28 red cards throughout a professional career that has featured four Champions League championships, victories in the World Cup, and victories in European championships.
“We should have faith in our resources,” Alonso stated, citing the depth of expertise in players like Ramos, Rakitic, and Navas. He was looking forward to Arsenal’s arrival in Spain for the first of two crucial back-to-back matches.
Arsenal would drop out of the top two slots in the mini-league if they lose to Sevilla, who have drawn their opening two games. Arsenal lost to Lens earlier this month.
Is Able”Overcoming this opposition will be difficult,” Alonso acknowledged. However, we are able to control the game.
