Pellegrini: “We are better than Sparta Prague”

Manuel Pellegrini cthe real one is here Legs He deserves more in his visit to Prague, where the defeat against Sparta (1-0) complicates his qualification for the next stage in the Europa League, although with a victory in Villamarín against Rangers will be obtained he first place, which is the goal, and even a draw, if the Scots do not beat Aris, who started 0-1 in Glasgow.

“We leave with the feeling that we played a good game, we were superior to Sparta, especially in the first half, in the second they had an opportunity and converted it. And we also have a couple that we can’t enter. We didn’t think it would be easy, we knew it would be hard here. And we always have the alternative of winning at home, as I already said, to be first in the group, which is what we have to look for now,” Pellegrini told the Movistar cameras after the clash.

The Betic coach continued with his analysis: “In the first half we dominated and in the second I think we dominated as well. They had that shot, with the opposing center back in midfield, they scored their goal and we looked for it: we had a few chances with Isco, Borja Iglesias also had one to achieve the tie, but it was not achieved.

Pellegrini explained the reasons for the change of Fekir, who returned to ownership after more than nine months. “Fekir had a blow (to his hip) that prevented him from continuing to play, hopefully it wasn’t a big blow, so he lasted the first forty-five minutes within our expectations and then he couldn’t continue”

Assane Diao’s contribution was the most positive for Betis. “You always have to make positive reviews, regardless of the result, and also negative reviews when you win. We need to review what we have done. I think we played a good game, we played a good playing game, we had the personality to go for the game from the start, but unfortunately we couldn’t find the goal.”

The defeat in Prague leaves the unbeaten streak of the green and white team at thirteen, which has not known defeat since the first day of the Europa League in Glasgow, at the end of September. “Streaks and stats are important to me. I’m more interested in good team play and achieving the successes and goals we set for ourselves. In the Europa League we will try to qualify and qualify first if we win at home. Now we have to focus again on Sunday in LaLiga, where we have to fight for the European spots, and then in the Copa del Rey, so those statistics are not important, getting the three points is more important.