Granada lament Anquela sacking

Granada’s sporting director Juan Carlos Cordero has justified the sudden replacement of coach Juan Antonio Anquela with Luca Alcaraz.

The La Liga strugglers sacked Anquela on Wednesday, and shortly after announced the re-appointment of Alcaraz, who will take charge until the end of the season, as the club look to avoid relegation to the second-tier of Spanish football.

Cordero was quick to praise Anquela for his attitude, emphasising the decision taken was not an easy one despite the heavy 3-0 defeat to Sevilla on Monday, which leaves Granada with only five wins in 21 games in La Liga.

“We had a meeting after the game in Seville and, much to our regret, we have seen the need to take a change in course for the team,” the sporting director said.

“The world of football is a game and sometimes it is not fair. Anquela is an honest and hardworking coach who has worked hard and given everything he had.”

Granada are 17th in the league, two points above the drop zone.