Pellegrini: “It was the best first half I have seen at Betis since I arrived”

It was a Betis intense and even voracious in the pressure that engulfed Atlético, who gave no respite in an impeccable first half, perhaps tainted by a lack of aim. “Is the best game of the season“Very complete,” he assured. It is not easy to create so many chances for Atleti. And it is not easy to play against them, since they have had a very defined style for ten years. The fact that we were the rival we were and the few mistakes we made make it not only the best first half of the season but the best I’ve seen at Betis since I’ve been here», declared the Engineer.

The team, although the pressure from above is non-negotiable in the script, has changed out of obligation, as the coach has already explained on more than one occasion: «We had to change the system. We don’t have Isco, Lo Celso, William, Rodri or Nabilthose types of creative players who generate a lot of offensive volume, but we had five or six powerful forwards with other characteristics. We had to adapt to that. It was important to find another formula with those types of players instead of regretting those who are not there. We press very well in short distances. We didn’t want to look for them up front because they had lost balls at the start in the last few games. “It was the key to creating such a high offensive volume,” he said.

So many chances were created in the overwhelming first half that the narrow victory generated unease as the minutes passed. Something normal because “anything can happen at 1-0,” Pellegrini pointed out. «On Thursday they tied us in an involuntary action. With 1-0 you are uneasy, but I saw the team as strong. We continued to press in the second half as in the first,” the Engineer recalled, “very happy with what the team is doing defensively and offensively». We just need to specify the opportunities: «Normally we create many even if we are missing a settlement and today it was similar, but against a very important rival. We continue with the inaccuracies, but also because we have more powerful players than technicians. I see the team very well», he stated.

This question was insisted on, the goal. «We have young players like Vitor who has to improve his technical ability. They are players with characteristics that They produce a high offensive volume and we have to adapt to what we have at the moment. As I said, we have four creative players out, but we also have power in attack that we have to take advantage of in the best possible way. Having missed so many goals is not normal either,” he acknowledged.

The match stood out Johnny Cardosoalthough Pellegrini is not very given to individual analysis: «Personalizing a specific player does not seem logical to me after this match. Johnny is integrating little by little. Altimira, Abde, the two centre-backs, the two full-backs were also very good… I would not focus on a proper name but on defensive and offensive functioning», he highlighted. In any case, the American is making a good tandem with Altimira: «There are only them due to the injuries of Marc Roca and Willian. They are players who come from other divisions. Altimira, from Primera RFEF, and Johnny is also new to LaLiga with experience in the United States. He has been improving his level and players like Guido and William have helped him a lot. I wouldn’t just focus on those names. I’m happy for the team in general,” Pellegrini remarked, ruling out the seriousness of Johnny and Aitor’s physical problems: “I don’t know what they have, but I don’t think it’s anything important.”