Sevilla secured a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, with Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke delivering one of his most energetic performances of the season. Ejuke, who had not started a league match since November, was instrumental in unsettling Real Sociedad's defense with his pace and aggressive running. His defensive commitment also stood out, helping Sevilla maintain a clean sheet in a tightly contested match. Head coach Luis García confirmed that Ejuke's continued presence in the starting eleven depends on maintaining the same intensity and focus shown in that game. "If he maintains this level, he'll play," García said. "If he's a focused Ejuke, always looking to attack and never losing his way." The coach emphasized Ejuke's defensive work rate as a deciding factor for selection. "That's what I told him. If he performs defensively, he has to play," García added. Ejuke requested to be substituted in the 60th minute due to fatigue, but remained on the pitch and finished the match. García acknowledged the physical challenge after such a long gap from starting, but praised the player's resilience. "He found strength, and the crowd helped him a lot," the coach noted. Despite managing only one goal and one assist in 24 league appearances this season, Ejuke's performance against Real Sociedad could mark a turning point in his campaign. Sevilla face RCD Espanyol next, with García indicating Ejuke will feature if he sustains his current form.
Ejuke's return to the starting lineup after months of absence exposes how rarely he has met Sevilla's tactical demands this season. His place now hinges not on past reputation but on replicating a single standout performance that combined attacking threat with defensive discipline. As a Nigerian player fighting to reclaim relevance at a struggling La Liga club, Ejuke's resurgence starts with consistency, not sentiment.
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