Sevilla secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in a tightly contested LaLiga encounter on Monday night, with Alexis Sánchez scoring the decisive goal. Head coach García Plaza opted to start Chidera Ejuke instead of in-form striker Akor Adams, who was left on the bench for the second consecutive match despite his eight goals and three assists this season. Ejuke played the full 90 minutes, bringing pace and unpredictability to Sevilla's attack, while Adams did not feature at any point. Plaza defended his selection on DAZN, citing recent performances and tactical balance as key factors. "I bet on Neal and he scored a goal the other day, that's all there is to it," Plaza said, referring to Sánchez. He emphasized that player roles are now defined by impact rather than guaranteed minutes, adding: "Right now, it's not the number of minutes each player gets that's important, but the quality of the minutes they give us." Plaza also highlighted Ejuke's ability to create chances and draw defenders, explaining the shift from a traditional winger to a more dynamic attacking presence. The win moves Sevilla further away from the relegation zone, with squad rotation emerging as a central feature of their survival strategy.
Akor Adams has scored eight goals this season, yet finds himself benched while a player with one recent strike gets the nod. This isn't about form—it's about a manager prioritizing short-term momentum over proven output. With Adams watching from the sidelines again, his value is now measured not in goals, but in readiness to respond to others' success. Chidera Ejuke's start reflects a tactical shift, but leaves unanswered how long a top scorer can stay effective without playing.
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