Sevilla president José María del Nido Carrasco has rejected criticism of sporting director Victor Orta.

The former Leeds United chief has been blamed for their struggles this season.

But Del Nido Carrasco said: "Víctor is paying the price for a sporting project that he has inherited, as I say, with 36 players in the summer market this season that we have started.

"It is not a slap in the face to anyone. It is a reality.

"He arrived, we told him 'There are 36 players, design a squad, let's try to keep 20 or 22 players'. In the end, good or bad players... there are good and bad performances. And there are players who, for whatever reason, do not give everything in Seville, regardless of whether they were good or bad.

"But they have not started a project from scratch. I have not wanted to refer to anyone from the past, but due to them... Victor, we have to give him a margin."