Betis returns from German lands with the bitterness of a European fall that hurt both for the forms and for the destruction of a dream. The expedition experienced the elimination as a direct blow to their state of mind, but at the same time they are driven by the hope of resurfacing in the League and reaching the long-awaited final of the Copa del Rey with the maximum possible strength. There were shortcomings reflected in many moments of the tie against Eintracht, such as that incipient defensive weakness that conditioned the Verdiblancos so much. There are also spotlights on the figures of the team: Pellegrini sets himself the challenge of recovering the best versions of him expressly.
Fekir and Canales were far from their best version. It is not a coincidence. The sum of minutes by both supposes a load that conditions them on the grass. The Frenchman appeared in the action of the goal in Frankfurt, but he disappeared during part of the duel and ended up being changed due to physical discomfort. His forced rest in the League could be air for the attacker. The Cantabrian, meanwhile, does not disappear from Pellegrini’s eleven, but his game does not resemble the one shown a month and a half ago either. Without them, the Pellegrini team flows less.
LaLiga Santander
*Data updated as of March 18, 2022
Betis disappears from its triple scenario and enters into its challenge to continue fighting for the heights in the League and prepare for that Cup final at the end of April that excites his fans so much. “We have many beautiful things to live for,” warned Borja Iglesias, expectantly at what is to come despite the European goodbye stick. “At least now we will have a couple of normal weeks,” said Pellegrini, aware of the importance of regaining strength for the decisive part of the season. There are threads of hope in Heliopolis despite the storm of frustration caused by the fall in Germany. Pellegrini builds them and now has the incentive that his best Betis must be remanufactured as soon as possible.