Sevilla’s new head coach Joaquin Caparros is not in any doubt about the quality of Super Eagles forward Chidera Ejuke, branding him a “decisive player” despite his challenging start to life at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Footynaija.com reports.
Ejuke arrived in Andalusia during the summer of 2024 as a free agent from Belgian side Royal Antwerp, with high expectations following his flashes of brilliance in Belgium. However, things haven’t quite gone to plan for the Nigerian winger.
In 22 appearances for Sevilla, he has managed just two goals and one assist, numbers that have raised questions about his efficiency in the final third. The 27-year-old’s campaign was further disrupted by a hamstring injury, sidelining him for several weeks. Upon returning, Ejuke found himself behind winter window signing Ruben Vargas in the pecking order.
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With just nine starts across all competitions, some observers have questioned whether the former CSKA Moscow man has truly earned the trust of the coaching staff. Caparros, however, offered a different perspective during a recent press conference before his side’s La Liga game against Osasuna.
“Well, I’ve spoken to him. He’s a kid who, it’s true, still has the language issue, just like the rest, but he does have the language, little by little… He’s not that fluent in our language, so we have to talk to him and manage him, in the best sense of the word, as best as possible,” he said as quoted by Futbol Fantasy.
“We’ve spoken. He has quality. In the first phase, when he was here, he was a decisive player. I’ve seen him in games where he’s been decisive for our team. Therefore, he has to come back; he has the confidence of me and the entire coaching staff.”
A poor season sees Sevilla languishing in 15th position ahead of their matchday 33 fixture against Osasuna on Thursday. Ejuke will be in contention to make his tenth start for the club, especially with Vargas currently out injured.
