Pellegrini: “We never thought it would be an easy game”

01/04/2025

Updated at 5:56 p.m.

Manuel Pellegrinicoach of Betishe assessed after the victory against Huesca the match won by his team in El Alcoraz (0-1). The Chilean coach now waits with his players for the draw to find out who their next rival will be in the King’s Cup and already think about preparing for the duel before the Valladolid next Saturday, January 11, when the Verdiblancos return to compete in LaLiga.

«First of all, I make a very positive assessment of the result. The objective was to qualify and we are classified. I knew it was going to be difficult. I think we played a very complete game in defense, I think we dominated the defensive part. We scored a goal and had opportunities to be calm. It has merit to keep a clean sheet», Pellegrini began by saying that he assured that he does not see beyond the next round as far as the Cup is concerned. «We don’t know who we are going to face, but the objective is to try to win in the round of 16. Once it passes we will see how far we can go. “We are going to try to continue in this competition,” he commented on the matter.

Pellegrini recognized that Isco He would like to have given him fewer minutes and pointed out that the scorer of the Betic goal “is improving and getting into the rhythm of the game more.” «We made him play longer perhaps than expected. He practically played everything and felt good,” he added.

Betis had a very recognizable eleven at the start and Pellegrini, however, assured that he knew that his team would not have an easy time overcoming the rival. «We came here with the best possible eleven to seek classification. We never thought it would be an easy game. Huesca is having a good football moment. “If we had scored the second goal it would have been a calmer game,” he concluded.