Certainly the rigidity of Machin’s system has played a significant role in the manager’s inability to properly rotate players. His 3-1-4-2 formation makes it difficult to adjust in-game, and requires a stringency that has limited personnel throughout the campaign. Furthermore, while Sevilla finds itself mid-table in terms of xGA, the squad has shown defensive frailty throughout the season. Machin was avoiding this reality in the early part of year, as the club was able to outscore its issues; averaging 1.9 goals per-match. Unfortunately, in the second half of the season that number dropped to 1.25 goals per-match (roughly in line with the league average). Defensively they’ve regressed further, limiting their opposition to 1.05 goals per-match in the first half of the campaign with the number jumping to 1.27 goals per-match in the second half. The consequence is Sevilla only being able to muster six clean-sheets this season – better only than Huesca and Rayo Vallecano. A major cause of this deterioration seems to be a lack of support for the back-three; Machin has chosen to use Banega as the lone holding midfielder, which in terms of build-up play has been a huge success, but Banega is still transitioning into the role, and has been calling out for support in front of the backline all yea. Furthermore, the use of Quincy Promes and Navas in the wingback positions has been useful going forward, but asks two players, who are more comfortable as wingers, to do a great deal of work in the defensive-third. The decision to use three offensive players in positions that come with a great deal of defensive responsibility has resulted in Sevilla’s struggle to hold a lead – often working desperately to register another goal rather than protect an advantage. This reluctance to create a side more difficult to breakdown is a major factor is Machin’s dismissal.