After a 'marriage' that has lasted a decade, Roberto Rios has concluded his stage with Pepe Mel, with whom last season he served as second in command of the UD Las Palmas. Waiting to find a new destination and already installed in Seville, the former player of Betis Y Athletic talks about what the meeting this Monday in San Mamés between both sets. The Portuguese-Uruguayan understands that in the case of the Andalusians the situation has not changed much compared to last year – he continues conceding too many goals – and predicts an open green-and-white rival, with the hallmark of Pellegrini. As for the lions, he believes that there is a good batch of homegrown players and that young people can be the future if they have confidence.
After your experience in Las Palmas, what are you into?
At the moment we are waiting at home to see what options there may be.
In the end I think that the two teams are more or less in the same dynamic
And waiting with expectation for Monday's game in Bilbao. While Athletic is worrying, Betis is better but fitting a lot.
Yes, the two teams have started somewhat irregularly. Betis alternating, playing good games with others in which things have not turned out. In the end, I think the two teams are more or less in the same dynamic. They have not managed to reach three games with good results to have that necessary tranquility.
To what extent has Betis changed with the arrival of Pellegrini? It makes good football, but it fits a lot.
Now the situation is similar to that of last season. It is a team that when the first pass enters it is capable of creating danger and good football, but defensively it is conceding many goals. He is pursuing a parallel career, more or less like last year.
Over for the meeting on Monday Canales and Fekir will cause loss. Too much for Betis.
Yes, they are very important casualties. They are very interesting players, but in the situation we are in right now, all of this is changing. You know that right now you are going to train, 48 hours before they do some tests and it is susceptible that everything that has been worked on throughout the week may come down on you. They are two players who have a goal. For Betis they are sensitive casualties when they need a goal.
Will these casualties make Pellegrini's approach a bit more defensive?
I do not think so. I think Pellegrini has his stamp. It will look for other alternatives and it has people to play in different systems or different ways, but it has people to cover those losses.
Who best enters the game, with more intensity, will possibly be the one who takes the three points
In view of how things are, how do you foresee the game?
Evenly matched, sure, because at the moment the two teams have quality people and apart from that, for me the most important thing is that the one who best enters the game, with more intensity, will possibly be the one who takes the three points.
In other words, it predicts an open Betis.
Yes, I think he will try to play his football, have the ball. He will try with the people he has on the wing and above, fast people, to hurt Athletic, which is very good defensively, which is missing or is claiming more goals, but that lack is demanded by many teams.
Speaking of Athletic, I am sure I have seen her. What conclusions have you drawn?
I know the issue is mixed up with the coach, with Garitano. It is the same story, not achieving positive results for two or three days and being in the lower positions, makes you not have that peace of mind and that confidence necessary to develop better football.
What do you like the most about the rojiblancos? How do you see young people, such as Morcillo?
He is a boy who has a lot of quality. Athletic is sure to get a batch of good players. As these guys have more presence in the first team, experiences and that they find themselves more comfortable will show that they are good players.
Winner, Iñigo Vicente … they also have to take command.
Yes of course. In the end these guys playing is when they will explode. It is clear what qualities they have good and then it depends a bit on the luck of each one so that they can have more minutes or less.
This is a team game in which many factors enter and the responsibility must be shared among all.
We talked a bit about the figure of the coach, which is being widely discussed.
I'm not surprised. When you do not have those results that give you peace of mind, the coach is the one who is always in the trigger. And I always say it: this is a team game in which many factors enter and responsibility must be shared among all.
It's a matter of patience, but it seems that there isn't much here with Garitano.
I have already seen the situation in recent weeks. Already from the party of the Seville it has been commenting. Winning games will surely calm down, it is the only medicine that coaches have.
By the way, you agreed with Garitano in the first team.
Yes, he came with us to train.
Among other things, he has managed to be in the final of the Copa del Rey. Will you be there to see him in April?
Well, it is not known, just not. Hopefully for those dates there can be a public and the weekend that is a party.
But he will already try to be in the box of authorities, who will already have good influences.
Heh, we will try to be.
If it is by game, Real Sociedad are favorites, but in a final it is not possible to position itself very clearly for anyone.
The virtue of Athletic is that defensively it is superior to Real Sociedad, but offensively Real Sociedad is superior to Athletic. Circumstances or any little detail marks you a lot.