Real Madrid, Sevilla and Betis. Those are the first three places in the Spanish championship after 16 days, surprising what the albiverde team did, as the other two are used to closing the year in the top 4 and qualifying for European competitions. The key to success at Betis has been not thinking so much towards the future.
“The parties are never the same. The only formula to achieve success is not to think about what is going to happen in May and about tomorrow ”, said the Betis coach, Manuel Pellegrini, at the end of October, when the group was already showing signs of positioning itself among the best in the table.
Betis has won nine of 16 games and one of the most important occurred on Saturday at the Camp Nou, when stopping the undefeated of Xavi Hernandez with a minimum score of 0-1 that catapulted them to third place overall and left Barcelona up to seventh place and with their worst start in the last 18 years.
The goal was the work of Juanmi and it was only the fourth time that Betis left a visit to the Camp Nou, after two 1-0 victories in 1988 and 1994, as well as a 0-0 draw in 1965. In addition, it was the club’s third victory so far this century visiting Barcelona.
“There are three more points for Betis, the more we achieve the better for us. It is a great team in its field and that gives double merit to what the team does. There was criticism that we did not win against the greats, but we go to all fields to win in the same way we always play. We are adding, that gives confidence to the group, which played a very applied game, “said Pellegrini after the victory in Catalonia.
The Chilean manages an effectiveness of 60% so far with 65 games directed at Betis, but he is a master who pulls the strings thanks to his vast experience in the world elite, after having directed River Plate, Real Madrid, Manchester City, among other clubs from England, Spain, Argentina and China.
In addition, he is considered the person most responsible for the good path of Betis from the point of view of the board: “90% of the success of Betis today is Manuel Pellegrini,” said Antonio Cordón, sports director of the albiverde team, a few weeks ago.
During the game against Barcelona, the Mexican Andrés Guarded started the 90 minutes in contention together with the Argentine Guido Rodríguez, a former member of the América Águila. Willian José, Sergio Canales, Borja Iglesias, Cristian Tello, William Carvalho and Héctor Bellerín are some of the figures that the team has for this season.
“It is clear that Pellegrini is achieving what was unthinkable for many. Manuel, in the end, with his experience, his spirit, the respect he transmits to the players in the locker room, the way he understands football, I think he is the ideal coach for Betis, “added Antonio Cordón.
In addition, Pellegrini has helped the team to develop well on their return to European competitions, as they are currently ranked second in Group G of the Europa League and on the last day they will seek a pass to the knockout round. “When I arrived, I always told our people, the Betis people, that the first step was to wake up the giant. I always said it. It was the important thing. With a little bit he woke up ”, highlights the sports director.
Next Thursday Betis will visit the Celtic Scotland just for that pass to the direct round of the Europa League, while in LaLiga they only have two games left in the year, which are against Real Sociedad and Athletic de Bilbao. In this way, the team that has found the spark with Pellegrini seek to cut the nine points that separate it from Real Madrid in the leadership of Spain before closing the first round of the 2021-22 season.