Ludwig Augustinsson has been introduced as Sevilla player. The Swedish national team defender thus leaves Werder Bremen behind after four years for the Spanish big club.
A cool move, says C More expert Adam Pinthorp. But at the same time, one should be prepared that the 27-year-old does not go directly into a starting eleven at Sevilla because he competes with Argentina’s left back, Marcos Acuña – who had a really good season last year.
– Acuna’s season last year strengthened his share. Sevilla had their vice-captain, Sergio Escudero, as backup but he barely got to play because Acuña was so good. It was also Acuña’s first season at the club. Therefore, I think he is the given first choice for Julen Lopetegui (coach, Sevilla) as left back in the starting eleven, says Pinthorp to Fotbollskanalen.
What do you think about Augustinsson’s chances for playing time during the season?
– Sevilla will still play many matches. They will enter the Champions League again and then it is a league game to perform in. They also recruited Argentina’s right back, Gonzalo Montiel, who will compete with Jesus Navas on the right back. So it’s a bit like Augustinsson, they think long term, says Pinthorp and continues:
– Acuña may not stay for more than a season, and then it may be perfect for Augustinsson with a year or so to acclimatize, get a gateway and learn about the new country and the new environment. And as I said, Sevilla will play many matches, so I’m sure he’s got a lot of playing time. I clearly believe that Augustinsson is recruited with a thought and not as a backup. Sevilla have still put some money on him and it is somewhere a merited national team defender that they get in. Then Acuña can play further up the track as well, so Augustinsson is good enough so there is an opening that both can figure in the same starting eleven.
But that Augustinsson manages the level and quality of football in La Liga – Pinthorp is sure of that.
– Yes, I think he can handle the quality. The perception I have received from him from his time in Werder Bremen is that he has been good but that he has had problems with injuries. He has also shown this in championships with the national team and earlier in his career. So if he gets in shape, I definitely think he can handle it. But it is also a level up, radical. Maybe two, even.
Do you think Augustinsson will fit in Sevilla’s game system and type of football?
– Yes, I think so. He is a bit more like Sergio Reguilón, who left Sevilla for Tottenham last summer, while Acuña is more of a defender who can dribble and run his own race. Augustinsson is instead more fit and can get around the edge. He really wants to get to the post positions with his left foot and I think that can suit Sevilla quite well.
How big is it that he goes to a club like Sevilla?
– If you only look at the last ten years and see which clubs have lifted the most trophies in Europe, Sevilla is up there and moving to the top. He comes to a really big club, as the first Swede as well. So it feels exciting that we get another Swede in one of Europe’s really big clubs.
Sevilla play their La Liga premiere on Sunday night against newcomer Rayo Vallecano. The match can be watched C More Football 22:15 or streamed on cmore.se.
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