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Sevilla's players are more accustomed to battling for silverware than survival, and have shown signs of improvement under Mendilibar.
Last season, Sevilla finished in sixth place in La Liga, their lowest finish in over a decade. This season, they sit in fourth place, just one point behind league leaders Barcelona.
Sevilla's success can be attributed to the club's new manager, Unai Mendilibar. Mendilibar, who has previous experience managing Valencia and Real Madrid, took over in November of last year.
Mendilibar has been able to get the best out of his players, most notably forward Alvaro Negredo. Negredo, who joined Sevilla from Valencia in the summer of 2012, has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season.
Mendilibar has also been able to get the best out of midfielder Ever Banega. Banega, who joined Sevilla from Valencia in the summer of 2011, has been a key player for Mendilibar. He has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in all competitions this season.
The improvement in Sevilla's play under Mendilibar is evident in their results. They have won four of their six league matches under Mendilibar, and have also won their past two matches in the Copa del Rey.
Sevilla's success this season has been a surprise, as they are not typically a team that competes for silverware. However, Mendilibar has been able to get the best out of his players, and they are now looking to challenge for trophies in the near future.