If Manolo Jiménez does get fired from Sevilla anytime in the near future, the Spaniard will no doubt be cursing his luck, bearing in mind the Andalucian side are currently competing to back into the Champions League.
However, it seems as though his reign his on the brink following the draw to Osasuna, and the exit from the UEFA Cup last year. Speaking today, he admitted that he doesn't feel special at the club, but that he knows results are what matters. "I feel taken in by the club, but I do not feel special," he mused. "Coaches are slaves of the results, I am a very good professional and I get up each day to try and learn more. I want to coach a team like Sevilla, because I believe we have enough quality to compete."
Certainly Sevilla have been competing this season, at least in La Liga and the Copa Del Rey, but their exit from the UEFA Cup could be what ultimately costs Jimenez his job.
The coach acknowledged that losing in that competition was a bitter pill to swallow too. "The UEFA Cup was a very hard blow. We wanted to get very far in Europe and to compete for the trophy at the end," he said.
That upset in Europe, and more recently the draw with Osasuna, has created unhappiness amongst the fans, which was shown as they whistled the team on the pitch. Jiménez said that when this happens he suffers a lot, and it is very difficult for him to communicate with the players.
However, the coach did also defend himself somewhat by hinting that perhaps the ambitions of some of the fans are too high.
"Sevilla cannot think that they are going to win the league losing six matches, or win the Copa Del Rey playing excellent football," he opined. "We have gone several seasons with the best through hard work and effort. This season Barcelona has excelled and if nothing strange happens, they have a great chance to win the league."