What Sevilla coach said about Ejuke after match-winning strike against Real Sociedad

Sevilla head coach García Pimienta has heaped praise on Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke following his match-winning performance in the 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad.

Pimienta pinpointed two crucial aspects of Ejuke's display that made him stand out in the tightly contested fixture.

Ejuke netted the only goal of the match in the second half after a goalless first period. 

The 27-year-old winger clinically placed his shot into the bottom right corner after receiving a well-timed pass from Saúl Ñíguez.

The goal was his second of the season, adding to his one assist in 17 league appearances. The victory propelled Sevilla to 10th place in La Liga with 36 points.

In his post-match comments, Pimienta acknowledged Ejuke's journey back to form following an injury setback that sidelined him for three months.

"When he got injured he was in great form. He was practically out for three months, with what that means to then get back into shape," Pimienta was quoted as saying by Sevilla's official website. 

The Sevilla boss also noted the impact of the new signing Rubén Vargas, who has been directly competing for Ejuke on the squad. 

However, Vargas was unavailable due to a hip problem, creating an opportunity for Ejuke to shine against Real Sociedad.

Piminenta praised Ejuke's contributions both offensively and defensively while urging patience with the Nigerian winger as he works to regain full fitness after his injury.

"In addition, Vargas is at a very high level and he had to wait. Today Rubén's hip problems prevented him from participating.

"He tried but he was honest. The opportunity has come for Ejuke, who did very well . He had some very good minutes also on a defensive level for the team. We are very happy for him too."

Ejuke's impressive display has not gone unnoticed beyond Sevilla. His recent form has earned him a place in Nigeria's 39-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

With Sevilla pushing for a strong finish in La Liga, Pimienta will be hoping Ejuke continues to build on his recent performances and cement his place in the team's starting lineup.

Adeyemi Adewale

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