After the agonizing draw after a “spectacular, exceptional” first half in Cádiz, Espanyol will face Betis this Friday at the RCDE Stadium, third-placed and in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, without a doubt one of the most fit teams in the championship. Vicente Moreno defined it well, who did not hesitate to describe it as “a team of Champions”, with virtues that even make “Even if we play a good game, it will be very difficult.”
Regarding Manuel Pellegrini’s team, the Valencian coach is clear that he combines a series of characteristics that make him a great and a dangerous rival on the pitch: “It is not only the classification, which is already a lot. The statistics, the game, the level of the players, the investment in the squad, the good coach they have… There are many reasons why he is fighting so high. He has a physique, he plays football well and he has the ability to score goals.”
Betis does not arrive at the best moment of the parakeet team, which arrives with doubts after its last three results against Elche, Mallorca and Cádiz. Vicente Moreno denies that the team wants to “cover your mouth” but he wants to win “for the fans, we will need your help. We are solid at home”, commented.
Just four hours before, Tonny Vilhena, the new signing for this January, presented himself with an ordago. “We can be in the top five”, He said. The Valencian coach’s response was clear: “We all have ambition. But then you have to put things on the pitch and perform for that to happen. My ambition is to win the Champions without playing it. But this is about something more, about giving up. The illusion of achieving the maximum. And as a coach we have that illusion of playing Champions and winning titles”Moreno commented.
Tony Vilhena.
RCDESPANYOL
Regarding Vilhena, the blue and white coach made it clear that “he hasn’t played since December 12, he will surely need training and we will see where he can help us, he is versatile and of a high level”. The one who is ruled out is Yangel Herrera: “He has no options, he is still not training. He is a player who was in good condition before Christmas, but he did not come well and we have not been able to count on him until now. I do not dare to say when he will be well”, argument.
Finally, asked about the fragility on the right side, Moreno excused Óscar Gil, who arrives from “an injury and needs time”, Aleix Vidal (“We signed him to be a winger and he is helping us”) and Miguelón, who is “playing less”. The conclusion: “We try to put the player who we think is going to give us the most in that match.”