Sevilla to make manager decision ‘in the next hours’ ahead of Man Utd Europa League tie

Sevilla are set to sack manager Jorge Sampaoli, according to various reports.

The experienced coach, who was previously in charge of Marseille and the national teams of Argentina and Chile, was appointed Sevilla manager in October after Julen Lopetegui was dismissed by the Spanish side.

But with Sevilla currently languishing just two points above the drop zone, the 63-year-old looks set to be replaced. He has, however, guided the club to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they’ll face Manchester United over two legs next month.

After finishing third in a Champions League group that contained Manchester City, Sevilla beat PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League play-offs and also overcame Fenerbahce in the last-16.

But the club’s European success has not saved Sampaoli, with AS reporting that the manager is set to receive a €10m payoff. They add Jose Bordalas and Jose Luis Mendilibar are the main candidates to take over at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. AS claim Sampaoli’s ‘stubbornness’ in sticking with three centre-backs was a major factor in him losing the confidence of the dressing room.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Sevilla are set to sack Jorge Sampaoli in the next hours. Board now already working on new coach to be appointed, with Jose Mendilibar as favourite, as Spanish media reported.”

Sevilla have lost three of the last four in the league and Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Getafe leaves the club in 14th place in the Spanish top flight. The six-time Europa League champions travel to Old Trafford on 13 April for the first leg of the quarter-final tie, before the return fixture is played a week later in Seville.