Sevilla president Del Nido: Toughest moment of my presidency

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido admits he is facing the toughest period of his reign.

Del Nido sacked coach Manolo Jimenez last week and replaced him with caretaker Antonio Alvarez.

Alvarez's first match at the helm finished in a 3-0 defeat at Villarreal on Sunday night to extend the team's winless run to eight games, leaving fifth-placed Sevilla two points adrift of a Champions League place.

While their situation hardly appears perilous, Del Nido wants better.

"Perhaps this is the most delicate moment in my entire time at Sevilla," he told the club's website.

"The mood and the results are bad. When you have a run of bad results, the prognosis will be bad as well.

"The managers that have been in charge of the squad are aware of the difficulties we have, but we have to bear in mind that this current squad has brought a lot of glory to Sevilla FC and now, when they most need it, it is necessary for the fans to give everything that they have to support the team.

"It is necessary to raise Sevilla with optimism to the best moment in its history."