Manuel Pellegrini has a handful of challenges ahead of him. The first of them arrives from Monday with the first of the four finals that it has to try to lead Betis to European competitions. Granada is the first of the starting points towards a closing of the course that will invite a new reconstruction in Heliópolis: the coach has almost all his defense in the air, expects possible practically forced exits and also a shortage of reinforcements that do not reach through the quarry due to the existing economic crisis. Quite a renewed challenge for a Pellegrini who until now knew how to handle the circumstances to put together a competitive team.
The defensive line will be the first high-altitude task for Antonio Cordón, Betis sports director, who in recent years stressed the need to wait these fifteen days for the end of the season to pronounce on the unpredictable future of some of his players. “We would like Emerson to stay here longer,” he warned. It will be difficult for that wish to be fulfilled, while another player like Miranda is also on loan and his permanence will be sought. Offers can come through Álex Moreno, Mandi will go to Villarreal, Sidnei has practically no account for the coaching staff and Víctor Ruiz awaits a renewal. Bartra, who returned from an injury a few weeks ago, is not guaranteed his continuity either. There is an almost complete defense in suspense.
LaLiga Santander
* Data updated as of May 6, 2021
Cordón will have to face this planning with scarce resources and possibly with the obligation that some important pieces leave the project to free up the salary mass and allow more reinforcements.. Many lights point to Fekir or William Carvalho, while Loren also has suitors on the table and would leave a surplus value when arriving from the quarry. Under this context of unknowns, Pellegrini tries to create a scenario of hope for his own: the mentality of the squad is set in that fight for fifth and sixth place in the League and that could be the best incentive to face another forced reconstruction.