Pellegrini Highlights Defensive Reliability in Betis Victory Over Atlético Madrid

Manuel Pellegrini, the coach of Real Betis, attributed the team’s enhanced defensive reliability as a key factor in their 1-0 away victory against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium. This win stands in sharp contrast to their previous encounter, where they suffered a heavy 0-5 defeat in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.

Pellegrini noted, “The key to our victory was maintaining defensive security and not conceding the three goals we allowed in the last match. We were attentive, focused, and intense, which prevented Atlético Madrid from exploiting the spaces they had in the previous game.”

Reflecting on the recent loss, he acknowledged, “Although that defeat was significant at home, it should not overshadow the progress we’ve made this season, which has been one of the best since our arrival. Despite the setback, we still have 45 points to play for and must continue to compete. This match was our ninth in 28 days, and we felt the effects of Thursday’s performance, but we aim to maintain our path through both better and worse moments.”

Discussing their tactical approach, Pellegrini stated, “The game unfolded as we always strive to play; however, circumstances can dictate variations. It is crucial to have defensive stability that allows us to manage the game for the full 90 minutes. We had been conceding too many goals previously, but fortunately, we addressed those defensive issues today.”

He elaborated on the tactical shift, saying, “While our footballing philosophy remains unchanged, we adopted a slightly more reserved stance against Atlético, who prefer to play in open spaces. At home, we tend to press higher, but today we opted for a more prolonged strategy. After acknowledging our errors in the last match, we conducted a thorough self-assessment and came together as a more cohesive and focused unit today, avoiding the mistakes from the previous game.”

On the defensive performance, Pellegrini remarked, “Atlético did not threaten us significantly, aside from a few crosses and headers. We effectively closed down the flanks, with our midfielders limiting space and the center-backs performing admirably. Allowing Atlético space is a recipe for disaster, as we learned on Thursday. Importantly, whether we win or lose, we engage in self-critique and recognize that each match is unique, which is why football remains the most popular sport in the world.”

Praising Bakambu’s performance, he said, “I am very pleased for him. There were rumors about his departure, but it’s easy to overlook that in the last match, he had three scoring chances. Unfortunately, he hasn’t converted recently, which can happen to strikers. However, he played a complete game today, working hard and creating danger while holding up the ball effectively.”

Discussing Fidalgo’s league debut, Pellegrini noted, “He has been adapting well, providing us with significant ball control and maintaining a low turnover rate. Together with Marc Roca and Fornals, they facilitated excellent control in the midfield.”

Regarding Antony’s defensive contributions, he stated, “I am happy for him as he scored a great goal despite ongoing issues with pubalgia that can affect him during play. Both he and Abde worked diligently on the flanks, countering Atlético’s attacking full-backs. The team’s overall performance was commendable in both defensive and offensive phases.”

Commenting on Griezmann’s disallowed goal, Pellegrini said, “Yes, they complicated things for us with a few headers that Valles managed to save. Although they challenged our defenders effectively, we were a bit concerned about that goal, but luckily, he was offside.”