Sevilla vow to take action following humiliating loss

MADRID: Sevilla President Jose Castro says action will be taken after the team’s humiliating King’s Cup final defeat by Barcelona on Saturday.

Barcelona won 5-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano to lift the trophy for the fourth year in a row and Spanish media reported that Sevilla’s Italian coach Vincenzo Montella is at risk of being fired when club chiefs meet today.

“As president I have to apologise to all Sevilla fans,” Castro said yesterday.

“The board will take the measures it deems necessary to try and help in these last five matches (in La Liga), we have to qualify for Europe.

“We will see what decisions to take but it’s the moment to be calm and think about what’s best for the club.”

Sevilla are seventh in the La Liga standings with 48 points from 33 games, three behind Villarreal in sixth and a Europa League qualifying spot.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid failed to break down Real Betis in a 0-0 draw on Sunday which further reduced their slim chances of catching Barcelona at the top of La Liga, while Las Palmas were relegated after a crushing 4-0 home defeat by Alaves.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico moved 11 points behind Barcelona with four games remaining and the unbeaten leaders need one more point to win the title.

With the Europa League semifinal first leg at Arsenal on Thursday in mind, Simeone rotated key players.

“The team is heading into Thursday’s game really well,” Simeone said. “We made important changes and the players responded, I had to rotate to ensure we had fresh players.”