There have been multiple occasions now where Monchi has claimed that the two-year duration of Denis Suárez’ loan at Sevilla is not trivial. Those at the Andalusian club are expecting big things from the Galician in his second season in the team. His first season at the Sánchez Pizjuán was poor, and surely it’s reasonable to think that he can now begin to perform at a higher level. But, for Denis, this summer is very different to the previous one, when he was arriving with the status of an important footballer, after dominating in the Segunda división and facing the task of replacing Rakitic, who had just led Sevilla to victory in the Europa League. What had started out so well for the player soon took a turn for the worse, as he went from being the scintillating summer signing to a regular on the bench as the months went by.

His difficulties to have an impact in the game from where he was being asked to play, together with Unai Emery’s decision to have the team play a more direct, counter-attacking style, meant that many of his teammates just passed him by. Banega and Iborra on the midfield, as well as Vitolo, Aleix Vidal and Reyes on the wings, closed many doors to him. As if that wasn’t enough, up to four new signings have arrived to the banks of the Nervión who will be directly competing with the former Barça B star for a starting place. From Krohn-Dehli who will be partnering Banega in the middle of the park, to the wingers Kakuta and Konoplyanka, and finally the former Premier League player Steven N’Zonzi who, even if he isn’t directly competing for a position with the Galician, will be playing in the centre alongside Krychowiak, thus occupying the position of those who will be competing with him.

However, it’s not all bad news at the beginning of the season in which Sevilla is expecting the best version of Denis. To be more specific, throughout Unai Emery’s career, his teams have always started the season by embracing possession of the ball, which should allow Denis Suárez a second chance to make his mark. In fact, despite the triumph in Europe and the team’s spectacular end-of-season form, this season doesn’t seem like it will be an exception if we add the expected contributions of signings of the calibre of Krohn-Dehli or N’Zonzi to what we already know about the manager from Fuenterrabía. If the Andalusians start the season with the intention of playing a slower, more possession-based game, the situation will favor Denis more than some of his teammates. And it is precisely then when his success or failure at this club will depend entirely on him.

Article translated from Spanish to English, originally published on En Um Momento Dado by Albert Morén. EUMD is one of Grup 14's partners.

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