Sevilla coach lauds Ejuke’s performance after securing Sevilla’s ninth win

Sevilla coach García Pimienta has praised Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke for making the most of his opportunity after delivering a match-winning performance in their 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Ejuke, making his first start since recovering from injury, broke the deadlock immediately after halftime with a stunning curler, securing Sevilla’s ninth La Liga win of the season and his second league goal.

Pimienta highlighted Ejuke’s resilience and impact on both ends of the pitch, emphasising his journey back to form after a three-month injury layoff.

“When he got injured, he was in excellent form. He was out for nearly three months, which made his return to peak condition challenging,” Pimienta told Sevilla’s official website.

“The opportunity came for Ejuke, and he made the most of it. He not only contributed in attack but also worked hard defensively. We are very pleased with him.”

During Ejuke’s absence, Sevilla strengthened their squad by signing Swiss winger Ruben Vargas, who established himself in the starting lineup. However, Vargas’ hip injury opened the door for Ejuke to start against Real Sociedad.

“With Vargas performing at a high level, Ejuke had to wait for his chance. Today, Rubén’s hip issue kept him out, and Ejuke stepped up,” Pimienta added.

Sevilla are now unbeaten in five consecutive La Liga away games for the first time since May 2023. The victory lifts them to 10th place with 36 points from 27 matches.

Next up, Sevilla host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, after which Ejuke will hope to join Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe—if he makes coach Eric Chelle’s final list.