Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli is keeping quiet over a potential summer switch to Barcelona. The Argentine has impressed since taking charge at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last summer, with his side sitting third in La Liga, just three points off leaders Real Madrid.
Barca were humbled in midweek, thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain, and most Barca fans expect that Luis Enrique will walk way from the club at the end of the season when his contract runs out.
Sampaoli leads his side into Champions League last-16 action against Leicester this coming week, and the ex-Chile boss has been mentioned as a potential successor, with some members of the Camp Nou hierarchy having pinpointed him as the No.1 choice.
However, when asked about speculation, he told Sevilla’s official website:
“I do not have to explain anything to anyone. I have nothing to do with what is said.
“My mind is focused on continuing to work every day to consolidate an idea here, in the club that brought me to Europe’ said Sampaoli.
“It is clear that this profession is about the present and the reality, and the reality now is to strive for this club. Tomorrow, you never know.”
However the Sevilla manager believes that Luis Enrique has earned the right to decide when he calls time on his career at Barca due to the success he has had at the club.
“This type of media speculation doesn’t help clearly evaluate all that Luis Enrique has achieved,” he added.
“Barcelona’s bench will be vacated whenever Luis Enrique decides what to do.
“I’m calm about the situation because none of the rumours started with me.”
