Jiménez relights Andalusian fire

If the true test of the strength of a club is how it rebounds from the departure of a successful coach then Sevilla FC supporters should have little reason to worry.

Ramos success
Juande Ramos enjoyed unprecedented success during his two-year tenure at the helm of the Andalusian side and his sudden decision to leave at the end of last month might have threatened to derail Sevilla's progress. Instead the club is rising again. By promoting reserve team coach Manolo Jiménez to the top job, president José María del Nido has kept faith in the project he and sporting director Ramón Rodríguez 'Monchi' have started, and the decision is bearing fruit.

Excellent results
Since taking charge on 27 October Jiménez has overseen Primera División victories against Valencia CF and leaders Real Madrid CF as well as taking Sevilla to within touching distance of a place in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time by winning away to FC Steaua Bucureşti on Wednesday. Sevilla are also once again playing with the style that won them two UEFA Cups under Ramos.

'Sevilla back'
It is a marked contrast to the start of the season when the tragic death of defender Antonio Puerta, coupled with a gruelling early-season fixture list, left Sevilla shattered both mentally and physically. Suddenly the spring is back in their step. "The team needed to feel happy playing football," Jiménez said. "When I took the job it was a question of carrying on all the good things and to lift spirits, because it's the same team it was a few months ago. We know opponents will be giving everything against us because the old Sevilla are back."

Transition
Jiménez, 43, is well versed with Sevilla's methods. He made a record 354 appearances for the club between 1983 and 1997 and returned as reserve team coach in 2000, overseeing the development of the likes of Jesús Navas and José Ángel Crespo, two of the youngsters now making an impression in the first team, as well as José Antonio Reyes and Sergio Ramos among others before them. The transition under Jiménez has been seemless, with the coach benefitting from the attention to detail Monchi has applied on everything from the youth set-up to scouting, nutrition to psychology.

Challenges
In the short term though, it is Jiménez's positive attitude that has been so significant. His appointment has been like a breath of fresh air and as Sevilla look to climb the table the challenges are coming thick and fast. Looking ahead to the trip to Villarreal CF on Sunday, the coach said: "It will be a tough one. They're going to be super-motivated because they're one point off the top of the table but we'll try to stop them and rejoin the title race."

'Great form'
Jiménez's hands are tied by injury with Crespo, Federico Fazio, Duda, Javi Navarro, Enzo Maresca and Julien Escudé all out, but that has not diminished the confidence running through the squad. "We're doing very well," defender Daniel Alves said. "We have some tough matches ahead but we're in great form and that will help us climb up the table."