In a recent press conference, Sevilla FC's head coach, GarcÃa Pimienta, addressed the ongoing poor form of Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho, subtly attributing part of the blame to Augustine Eguavoen, the interim coach of Nigeria's national team.
Iheanacho, who joined Sevilla from Leicester City this summer, has yet to find his footing in La Liga, failing to score or assist in his first four matches. His struggles have been exacerbated by the injury of first-choice striker Isaac Romero, which has placed additional pressure on the 27-year-old to perform.
Pimienta expressed confidence in Iheanacho's abilities but highlighted that his lack of match fitness and game time with the Super Eagles has hindered his adaptation to Sevilla's demands. “He has quality, but he arrived a month late and has been training individually. The two weeks he spent with the national team, where he did not play, did not help him,” Pimienta stated.
The coach emphasized the importance of instilling confidence in Iheanacho, noting that despite his current challenges, he possesses the talent necessary to excel. "We need to support him as he adjusts; he is capable of turning this around," Pimienta added.
As Sevilla prepares for their upcoming match against Athletic Club, all eyes will be on Iheanacho to see if he can translate his potential into performance on the pitch.