MADRID, 18 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Real Betis, Manuel Pellegrini, lamented the elimination of his team in the round of 16 of the Europa League after drawing with Eintracht (1-1 and 3-2 on aggregate) and assured that “no one can be disappointed with the team” despite the goodbye in the second continental competition.
“The tie in the last minute was quite cruel. We had played a very good game and we had the calm to score the goal without despairing and without leaving spaces behind,” Pellegrini analyzed in statements to Movistar. “But unfortunately in the 120th minute his goal came from a stopped ball and they tied the game,” he added.
“They hadn’t had a shot on goal in the last 30 minutes and they were low in spirits, but it didn’t happen. Now we have to keep our heads up to continue competing. On penalties? No, the team hasn’t seen each other on penalties (with Borja’s goal), his goal was from a rebound when Guido and Rui Silva collided squarely and the ball went in”, he said.
In addition, the Chilean coach asked the fans to value the team’s effort. “Nobody can be disappointed with the team because they competed until the last minute. They tied us from a set piece and football is like that. There are moments of joy and sadness and we all would have liked to continue in the Europa League”, he commented.
“We were able to play 10 games in this competition and we were one step away from the quarterfinals, but on the other hand it is going to leave us a little more space in the ‘fixture’ before the Cup final. We are very bitter but we have to look for the positive side. We will take advantage of it to look for a more advanced position in the League and for the final of the Copa del Rey”, concluded Pellegrini.