MADRID, 12 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Real Betis, Manuel Pellegrini, emphasized the importance of closing first place in their Europa League group as soon as possible, which he can achieve this Thursday against the Italian AS Roma and would avoid a round of crosses, because he sees “Important” to remove a game during the week of the “many” that will be “between January and June” for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2021.
“This year is different, there will be many games on Wednesdays between January and June, and saving two games is not essential, but it is important and it is what we have to try to ensure here at home,” Pellegrini said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The Chilean insisted on the “importance of ensuring qualification”, although he warned that this game against the ‘giallorosso’ team is not “decisive”. “Many of us did not expect to reach this point in the competition with nine points. We will try to win from the first minute as we do in all games,” he added.
“I expect a Roma with the same characteristics as last week, I don’t think it will change. A clear characteristic of the teams that Mourinho leads is that they are intense and complicated on the counterattack. It was an even game there, I think we were superior in the first half, especially where we had chances and we played at their ground. We will have to play such a complete game if we want to score points”, explained the Verdiblanco coach.
His rival will arrive in Seville without the Argentine Paulo Dybala, while Betis will not be able to count on the Frenchman Nabil Fekir. “For any team, losing an important player like Dybala or Fekir always has an impact, but Roma do not depend on a player, they have been reinforced very strongly to do important things and they will surely look for a substitute to have the level of these games”, he pointed out. .
In this sense, Pellegrini made it clear that they will not use “as an excuse” the absence of their midfielder, who cannot give “a return date.” “He will not be here for this Thursday or for Sunday”, confirmed the Betis coach, who will finally be able to count on the Brazilian Luiz Henrique who has “no physical problem”.