Pepe Mel: “Betis is the club of my life”

Pepe Melwho is the second coach to direct the most official matches in the history of Real Betis, with 202, just behind Lorenzo Serra Ferre (263) and just ahead of Ferenc Szusza (198) and Manuel Pellegrini (193), will visit Benito Villamarín this Sunday, leading relegated Almería, in fourth opportunity as a coach visitor. The previous three were in 2000, 2001 and 2017 in charge of Murcia, Tenerife and Dépor, respectively, and in all three they lost against Betic squads then led by Fernando Vázquez (2-1), Juande Ramos (1 -0). ) and Quique Setien (2-1). In his last two visits, all the goals in the victories at Betic were scored by Joaquín (the 1-0 with Juande and the two in the 2-1 with Setién), who was under his command in the first round of 2015/16 season, after which he was dismissed for the second time.

Pepe Mel He starred in one promotion (1990/91) as a player and two more as a coach (2010/11 and 2014/15) of Real Betis, who also qualified for the Europa League in 2012/13, hence Sunday’s event has some special connotations for him. “For me it is very, very, very special. Think that despite the time I have been a footballer, I have been a coach for six years and many things have happened. Two promotions, one qualification for Europe, two dismissals. .. there In six years, you have time for everything, I didn’t hide it, this is my family’s club and this is the club where we suffer and rejoice in good things.. because I am sure that people will receive me with affection, the same as I have for them when the referee blows his whistle, we are in professional mode,” Pepe Mel declared in an interview with Canal Sur Radio.

“We know that we are going to an important field, with amazing fans and a team that is now playing well and fighting for Europe. We will try to make our virtues before seeing our flaws,” explained of the Madrid coach. who offered glowing praise to Isco Alarcón: “I think a series of things came together. Isco wants to defend himself, he wants to play football, be a footballer. You can think that he is tired of competing, he shows that no, that he is a wonderful professional and a wonderful athlete He fits well with a coach who always plays in 4-2-3-1 and the midfielder behind striker is the position in which Isco is satisfied with Pellegrini. It cannot be determined on the field, I think Isco is a fool, so I say that we have to try to play in a different way. t can, but it is a difficult task, especially in the game.

Pepe Mel He valued his European qualification with Real Betis in 2013 and highlighted the differences with the current Betis: “The comparisons are sometimes disgusting. We wear the same shirt, the same shield, but it’s not the same team. Go me in Europe, As you say, with many youth players and at a time that in Betis we have to suffer a lot of people to be where they are now, because I love it, I enjoy watching them compete at the top, in the top. the Spanish League, in Europe and always being classified But when I arrived in 2010 that was a piece of land Now I, well… I see Betis with different eyes, because I think, I repeat, they have the fan base behind them which is amazing and they enjoy supporting and wearing the same shirt, playing in the same stadium and wearing the same shield, but it’s not the same team because now of course it has many possibilities for many things . .”

Mail He identified the keys to Sunday’s game, facing already relegated Almería but after adding two victories and a draw in three games under his command: “We won two games and in those two games there was we have managed to defend the area, which are we only talk about six games, but in the six games that I have in, well, it was a drain inside the area we did it in Las Palmas, we did it in Vallecas and the team won a little bit where we weren’t good in the games we lost and knowing the team in front of us, that wants the ball, that wants to knead it, that wants to find the game, that’s where we have to be helpful.”

Mail also referred to Ayoze Perez, one of the main proponents of the Betis attack and a player that Mel knew well and wanted to sign a few years ago: “Betis have a player that I don’t think is appreciated properly. For me he is a fantastic footballer, I have known him well for many years.” years, since we were young, and I tried to sign him in my time, but it was very difficult. And Ayoze is a player who makes a difference, he is a player with a goal, who sees the last pass, who unchecks, he is a player who is technically complete and he is a player who runs in space So, even how do you mark him, he is always looking for space team and a competitive team, and therefore , a very important team in the Spanish League”.