Manuel Pellegrini, technician Real Betis, don't think about booking players like Guido Rodriguez or Fekir -warned of suspension by cards- ahead of the derby against Sevilla FC next Saturday, January 2 at the Benito Villamarin. “We will worry about the derby as of Wednesday”, has settled Pellegrini, questioned about whether he planned to reserve a player against Levante. “We didn't look warned or anything. When the time comes against Sevilla we will put the best team possible ”, stated Pellegrini in this regard in the preview of the clash with the Valencians.
The Betic coach stressed that the three points at stake against Levante “are very important to climb the standings. There are four games left to finish the first round and you have to add the most points. We are going to Valencia with the mentality of winning, ”said Pellegrini.
The Chilean awaits a more open match at the Ciutat de Valencia than the last two, against Granada and Cádiz: “We have come to face teams like Granada or Cádiz, which close well, tighten the mark … Levante is a more creative team, with technically very good players. You have to be careful with brands and not let them create spaces, but they will also allow us to play more ”, he explained.
Pellegrini hopes to be able to maintain the streak of results from the last games: “Taking seven points out of twelve is a streak that, if we project the entire championship, puts us with more than 60 at the end of the season. We are going to try to be as close to that parameter as possible, sometimes improving it and sometimes worse, ”he said.
The Betic coach is not satisfied with what his team did in this first part of the season: “I am not satisfied. I would like not to concede so many goals, but I am happy with many games we played, even in defeats like against Atlético and Real Madrid, against which we were superior at times. Against Cádiz we were very applied in defense, but not so creative. Hopefully we will find the regularity and balance that we are looking for ”, has wished Pellegrini for 2021.