Sevilla president Jose Castro reiterated his support for Jorge Sampaoli after the club's 3-0 loss to Barcelona on Wednesday, but admitted that he would not discuss the manager's future until the end of the season.
Sevilla have not won since March 2 and Wednesday's loss left them fourth, three points adrift of Atletico Madrid, who occupy the last direct Champions League qualifying spot.
"Our trust in Sampaoli is intact but this is the time now to think about the club. We have to be thinking about these remaining eight matches," Castro said. "There will be time to answer those questions [about Sampaoli's future] later. We can't allow these [remaining] eight matches to derail our successful season."
Castro insisted that the club's sole focus was on getting through the season successfully after five straight losses. He said earlier this year that Sampaoli can leave this summer if he pays a €1.5 million release clause.
"He has one year left on his contract but I would not consider it a failure at all if he didn't continue," Castro said on Thursday. "At Sevilla, we don't talk behind each others' backs and we are interested in having Sampaoli stay here for many more years. He has one more year on his contract. We continue to place our trust in him. But what will happen over the coming months, I do not know. He only tells us how happy he is here with us."
Sampaoli has yet to accept Sevilla's offer to extend his contract for another year, with his current deal expiring in June 2018. He is rumoured to be a candidate to replace Luis Enrique at Barcelona and his name has been floated to coach his native Argentina as well as the national teams of Qatar and the Netherlands.
The club also confirmed recently that in-demand sporting director Monchi will leave this summer.
Sampaoli said his Sevilla side have not recovered from their Champions League elimination by Leicester City and are paying the price in La Liga.
Sevilla led 2-1 against the Premier League champions after the first leg of their round-of-16 tie but were beaten 2-0 at the King Power on March 14 to go out.
Sampaoli told his club's official website: "To be knocked out of the Champions League was a very hard blow.
"The regression in our results has to do with the long season that we've had, the enthusiasm that we had in the Champions League and the will to maintain our rhythm with Real Madrid and Barcelona."
Earlier in the year, Sevilla had looked to be strong contenders for the title, having reached a club record 42 points by the halfway stage to sit one point behind Real Madrid in January.
"We are finding it difficult not to be able to continue to be in there and we need to find a solution quickly," Sampaoli said.
Sevilla have scored just one goal in their last four games in all competitions and have kept one clean sheet in their last six games.
"It's very frustrating," the coach added. "We are constantly looking to score but without finding the goal.
"What used to be in our favour in the past is now against us today. We really need to return to winning ways."