In the press conference after the match, Pepe Mel criticised the “two blatant penalties we weren’t given. Mariano continuously kicks everyone and as soon as we foul we are booked, and they’re not”.

He insisted that the action that took place in Sevilla’s box with Ola John and 3-2 down “is scandalous. One thing is missing penalties, but not letting us take them is another”.

However, “with all this said, we have to say it’s ‘mea culpa’. With seven matches left we have to be more manly. We cannot concede to goals in dead-ball situations. The third goal is a joke. They came back twice in a ground like this, in a very adverse situation. They can’t score from a free kick in the wing, because we’re playing for a lot. We have to be stronger there, be more experienced”, he added.

Pepe Mel already has his mind set on Saturday’s home game against Málaga (1 pm, Bein Sports): “What the team needs is to find solutions. This match is in the past”.