Pellegrini Applauds Team Effort After Victory Against Valencia

Manuel Pellegrini, the manager of Real Betis, commended his team’s effort in successfully navigating their second match at La Cartuja this week, defeating Valencia. The Verdiblancos, who had previously triumphed over Feyenoord on Thursday in the Europa League to secure their spot in the tournament’s Round of 16, have now climbed to fifth place in LaLiga as they prepare for their third home match this Thursday against Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

“It was certainly going to be challenging. Valencia is a formidable team with a strong squad. I have always stated that the physical and psychological toll of playing on Thursdays can affect performance on Sundays. Fortunately, the team responded well today. In terms of our football, we lacked creativity in the first half, but our performance improved significantly in the second half with Fornals’ introduction,” Pellegrini noted in the mixed zone before addressing the press at the stadium.

With this victory, Betis reclaimed the fifth position in the league standings, narrowing the gap to Villarreal, who occupy the Champions League spots: “We are not only competing against Espanyol. There are still 48 points available in LaLiga, which is our priority. The squad has demonstrated maturity. Despite injuries, we have managed to respond effectively. We have secured three vital points. In this trilogy of matches, we have made two significant strides, but we still need to finish strong at home in the Copa del Rey.”

Looking ahead, all eyes are on the transfer market’s closing period, where the team hopes to acquire one or two reinforcements, and the upcoming quarter-final match against Simeone’s side: “It is going to be a challenging match as we face a great opponent. The support from our fans will be crucial. Despite some criticism during specific matches, the supporters have been responsive. It is not easy to attend three consecutive matches with demanding schedules.”