MADRID, 5 (EUROPA PRESS)
Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini said they stayed “30 seconds from the semifinal” after losing the ticket to get among the four best in the Copa del Rey in the penalty shoot-out, but highlighted the “work” of their players, who were “better” than Athletic despite the final result.
“We leave with a feeling of frustration because we stood up for the whole game and we were 30 seconds from the semifinal. Unfortunately they scored that goal before the end and in extra time we couldn’t. At the end of the penalty shoot-out they were more successful “, the Chilean coach of Betis reviewed.
“We had generated an illusion regarding the performance we had, we had eliminated Real and we knew that Athletic was going to be a very competitive team after their victory in the Super Cup. But, despite being very applied in all the rival centers, they were not We were able with the latter. I don’t think it was a defensive failure, there is also the merit of the one who finishes, “said Pellegrini.
“Now, to keep thinking about the future, we want to keep fighting to get closer to the European competitions in the League. It is a hard emotional blow but the squad is ready to overcome it. We have to get up and from tomorrow and touch that emotional part to recover . We compete as equals and with that we have to stay, “added the engineer.
Lastly, Pellegrini defended his changes. “I don’t think Fekir would have taken that ball out,” he said in relation to the goal play, in which the Franco-Moroccan forward was replaced by Sidnei. “And the rest of the changes have been due to cards or injury,” he added.
