Response from Manuel Pellegrini
Manuel Pellegrini, Betis’ coach, expressed his disappointment at the press room of Montjuïc Stadium after being eliminated from the King’s Cup. His team suffered a significant loss against Barcelona, who dominated the game from the start and took the lead in less than three minutes.
Assessment of the Elimination
Pellegrini acknowledged the disappointing result, stating that when a team loses 5-1, the assessment cannot be positive. He recognized that Barcelona played exceptionally well, coming from a recent Super Cup win. However, he also pointed out that his team gave too many defensive liberties.
Team’s Performance and Reinforcements
Despite the loss, Pellegrini is focused on the upcoming LaLiga matches and the resumption of the Conference in February. He expressed confidence in his team’s potential, acknowledging that they did not have their best performance in the last week but believing that they would improve.
Comparison with the Previous Game
Pellegrini noted that the game a month ago was different, as his team played a good game and created many scoring opportunities. However, in this match, they allowed Barcelona to control the game and cause significant damage. He highlighted the importance of aggressiveness in recovery as a key differentiating factor between the two games.
Lamine’s Performance
Pellegrini refused to attribute Barcelona’s success solely to Lamine, stating that the team has several skilled players, including Olmo, Raphinha, and Pedri. He emphasized the collective effort behind the team’s results.
Update on Ruibal’s Injury
Pellegrini reported that Ruibal suffered a sprained ankle and that the severity of the injury would be assessed in the following hours.
Lamine’s Strengths
Pellegrini declined to comment on Lamine’s abilities, emphasizing that the player demonstrates his skills on the field in every game. He hopes that Lamine will continue to progress as a young player.
Less Aggressiveness
Pellegrini acknowledged that playing away from home can make a significant difference, as statistics show. He attributed the team’s passiveness to the away game, allowing Barcelona to control the game.
Vitor Roque’s Performance
Pellegrini praised Vitor Roque’s attitude, stating that the young player has a positive dynamic and constantly tries to change the game with individual actions. As he progresses, Pellegrini believes that Vitor Roque will become an important player.