After his poor start to the season in his seventh year in charge of Real Sociedad, Imanol Alguacil defended his position this week. La Real is currently 16th, level on points with Real Valladolid in the relegation zone, but Sheriff were happy with their 1-1 draw away to OGC Nice to start their Europa League campaign.
On Tuesday, Alguacil told the media that his critics finally had the opportunity to get off the plate to have a pop at him, and after his result in France, he told the press that his players were here until death with him.
Imanol Alguacil fired this week.
Marti: “Because of the results, they had to hide, but now people are coming out to criticize me after six years.”
Wednesday: “These players follow my ideas to the death, (they go with) what I tell them to do.” pic.twitter.com/Gq1fNG0aF6
— Football España (@footballespana_) September 26, 2024
“If there is one thing that this team has, it is a lot of personality. Change of setup, a lot of home players. For many, it was their first start. I always say the same thing, these players go to death with my ideas, with what I'll tell them. Once again, I'll congratulate them even if we didn't win the game. What they did has a lot of merit,” said Alguacil Relief.
Nice were coming off an 8-0 win against Saint-Etienne last weekend, but were mostly shut out by La Real.
“We have reached a stage where this team is in a very sweet moment of form. They are very bold, very good players, vertical, with a lot of quality. I think we had a great first half. (I am) Half happy, because in the second half we dropped physically and we were not able to maintain the level of the first half”, he explained.
While Sports Director Roberto Olabe supported him Earlier this week too, it is certainly evidence that Alguacil is under pressure for the first time in a while. The Basque manager is far from being fired, but the murmur of discontent will grow if the results do not improve. They face Valencia, Anderlecht and then Atletico Madrid at home before the international break, and will be desperate for at least one win before the break.