With “mixed feelings” he left Manuel Pellegrini after the point rescued on the hour with Celta after a strange match in which the Vigo team scored practically their only two chances against Rui Silva. «I value the point a lot, but at home you always lose two when you tie, and even more so against a rival who came twice. We controlled the game but we didn’t make the chances. The team did not give up until the end although we finished on Thursday at eleven at night. We had chances to take the lead, we didn’t convert them and in the end we got that point,” summarized the Engineer.
He recognized that the yellow Johnny Cardoso conditioned the carousel of changes. «Johnny was doing a great game. He had the card and at the beginning of the second half they exaggerated a foul to find the second. It was very important not to take risks with the game open, but I think the changes went well. After 1-1 we created three very clear chances that we did not convert from Pablo, Iker and Vitor to have put us at an advantage. We couldn’t. They put themselves forward and it was very commendable not to give up until the end,” the Chilean insisted.
He was asked if he is worried about the lack of effectiveness or the number of arrivals the team needs to score a goal: “I never said that I’m not worried,” he added. Today we scored two goals, which is not a bad amount. The important thing is to have chances and convert them, but anything we don’t do well is always worrying. We had just finished playing at eleven on Thursday. Having an advantage on the scoreboard allows you to control the times better. With those three chances that we did not convert, the score could have been different. “I really value continuing to compete until the end,” he reiterated.
The evaluation of this section of the competition and the third of the league is positive for the Betis coach. «Before the last national team break we left with two defeats. Now we have played seven games with four wins and three draws. It’s positive. The percentage of points, with a third of the competition, is 60, fighting for Europe. We are still valid in the Cup and Conference. I leave satisfied but always with the demand and the conviction that we can take one more step,” said Pellegrini, for whom the substitutions had the desired effect without diminishing the team’s performance, but quite the opposite: “After the changes there were three scoring chances against the goalkeeper. We had more than in the first half and the team continued in the same dynamic. We couldn’t score and they did it on the only arrival. “Then we scored the tie.”
He admitted that he had planned to give fewer minutes to Lo Celsus: «We wanted him to come out later, but in order not to lose the advantage of a window, we did it with Llorente. We created chances after those changes to win the game. The team maintained its performance,” stressed the coach, who answered this when questioned about the evolution of Vitor Roque: “With Vitor we all have the same feelings. He gives himself a lot on the field, he is constantly demanding of the defenders and We must not forget that he is 19 years old. The shot and the pause have to be improved a lot but it gives a feeling of permanent dangerHey, I’m sure that as long as he continues playing he will be a great player,” he highlighted.
The use of VAR and the monitor
He extended his explanation when asked if he believed there was an offside in Celta’s 0-1 draw. «I saw it and I am going to give my opinion in general terms. The player is in Rui Silva’s line and could have bothered him to save the shot. The VAR reviews it, but when there is any doubt the referee always has to see it. It doesn’t cost you anything. I said the same thing with Llorente’s handball in the derby. You should always go to see the decisive things and not believe that the VAR is punishing you for not having seen it in action.. I don’t relate that goal to today’s result, because we had chances that we wasted. The important thing is that the referee does not make a mistake. “You should go see all the doubtful things,” considered the Chilean, laconically when asked about the presence of Ceballos in the stadium: “I prefer not to comment on anything because I would have to comment on 15 or 20 names before December.”
Finally, he valued the importance of recovering players during this break with a view to the last month and a half of competition in 2024. «Marc (Rock) He has discomfort in his ankle that does not allow him to run normally. It is evolving but I cannot specify how much longer it will take. It is important to recover Bellerín and Aitor. Isco is missing a little. To the extent that we have more players, it will be important to remain valid until December in three competitions. There are two away games in the Conference and the more players we have, the more alternatives there will be to keep us in the three competitions, as we are now, which leaves me very happy.
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