Betis President Ángel Haro Discusses Team Dynamics Ahead of PAOK Match

Before heading to Greece for tomorrow’s UEFA Europa League match against PAOK, Betis President Ángel Haro addressed various current issues concerning the club in a press conference at San Pablo Airport.

Regarding the winter transfer market, Haro acknowledged the urgency that often characterizes the final weeks of such markets, stating, “We are currently in that window, but I cannot definitively say whether we will make any new signings. It is well-known that our expenditure on the squad this year is the highest in our history, and we must maintain a balance between sporting ambition and our financial situation.”

When asked about the priority of acquiring a forward, he responded, “The idea is to remain vigilant, as we would in any market. There is a distinction between fan expectations and discussing with the coach to understand what requirements exist from his perspective.”

On the necessity of selling players to facilitate new signings, Haro mentioned, “It depends on the amounts involved. There is always a bit of flexibility, but it would be reasonable for a player to leave if another is brought in. We have always been ambitious in terms of sports, even backing ourselves, but we must be aware that we cannot make reckless financial decisions.”

Regarding Chimy Ávila’s situation, he stated, “We view the markets as an opportunity in every sense. When there is a proposal, we sit down and analyze it. I cannot provide many details at this time.”

As for the upcoming match against PAOK, Haro expressed optimism, saying, “Rather than being overly confident, we approach this with great optimism based on our performance in this competition. Although we face several absences, there is a significant commitment from the group, and I am confident we will achieve a positive result.”

Discussing the goal of finishing in the top eight, he noted, “The cutoff for being among the top eight will likely be between 17 and 18 points, meaning a victory in Greece would almost guarantee that position. It is an extremely important match.”

Reflecting on the season thus far, he described it as positive, stating, “We are very much alive in the cup with an exciting competition ahead, and we have a home match against Atlético. We are just one point away from the leader in the Europa League and currently in European qualification spots in LaLiga. While we can always strive for more, we are satisfied.”

Regarding any questioning of coach Pellegrini after the draw in Oviedo, he clarified, “No, we have a clear roadmap outlining our objectives. In football, it is natural for optimism to prevail after victories and for a sense of pessimism to arise after losses, but we are firmly aligned on our administrative strategy.”

Haro concluded by stating the club’s aspirations, saying, “The ultimate goal is to win LaLiga, of course. Realistically, given the context in which Betis operates, our aim is to finish as high as possible. A fifth-place finish would represent a very good season, and anything above that would be excellent.”

Finally, commenting on the Copa del Rey draw, he remarked, “I am pleased with the draw to play at home. It is a challenging opponent, but being at home levels the playing field.”