Manuel Pellegrini
Real BetisMarcelino
Villareal
Meeting Highlights…INJURY REPORT
Bravo has a small contracture in his neck from which he has not recovered for tomorrow's game but it is nothing serious. Bellerín had a muscle injury yesterday that will keep him out for one or two weeks. Aitor, like Isco, I think that next week he will also join the squad, like Abner. Bartra and Bakambu still have at least three weeks left each to be able to join the first team.
…SQUAD
Many consider that it is a problem that everyone is ready but it is important to have a balanced squad. We had a difficult time with many injuries in which the team knew how to respond, although perhaps not in Europe, but it is a joy for everyone that the more players are fit it is much easier, not more difficult. Performance increases due to demand and competition, which are higher.
…ISCO’S TIME
I see Isco very well because he is also an impeccable professional. Even though he was going to be standing for a long time, he worried about his diet and is at the ideal weight. Next week he will be with the team and we will see if he will have a few minutes against Rayo or if we give him more days due to the FIFA break. I'm happy for him and for his efforts. Maybe thinking that it was going to be 40 days, any other player could let himself go but Isco has been exemplary.
Manuel Pellegrini
Manager on Real Betis…INJURY REPORT
Bravo has a small contracture in his neck from which he has not recovered for tomorrow's game but it is nothing serious. Bellerín had a muscle injury yesterday that will keep him out for one or two weeks. Aitor, like Isco, I think that next week he will also join the squad, like Abner. Bartra and Bakambu still have at least three weeks left each to be able to join the first team.
…SQUAD
Many consider that it is a problem that everyone is ready but it is important to have a balanced squad. We had a difficult time with many injuries in which the team knew how to respond, although perhaps not in Europe, but it is a joy for everyone that the more players are fit it is much easier, not more difficult. Performance increases due to demand and competition, which are higher.
…ISCO’S TIME
I see Isco very well because he is also an impeccable professional. Even though he was going to be standing for a long time, he worried about his diet and is at the ideal weight. Next week he will be with the team and we will see if he will have a few minutes against Rayo or if we give him more days due to the FIFA break. I'm happy for him and for his efforts. Maybe thinking that it was going to be 40 days, any other player could let himself go but Isco has been exemplary.
Marcelino
Manager on Villareal…BETIS
Betis is an organised team with a 4-2-3-1 that I also think has had a very good winter market, incorporating players who have increased its capacity and also the diversity in terms of options. They have made good signings, especially Fornals, who is giving a great performance. They have had the same idea for a long time and it will be complicated.
…ABOUT MATCH
The determining factor is always success in the areas. It is what will decide the match. There may be moments in the game when Betis may be superior to us when playing at home. If we are effective in our area and do damage in theirs we can achieve a positive result. We have to try to implement our way of defending and attacking. If we do it more successfully than the rival we will achieve a positive result.
…OBJECTIVE
Betis is very far away in the classification. He has lost very few games. In the entire competition, in their field, they have only lost against Barça. It is a complicated team, which is having a very good year. He is solvent and plays football well. It is going to be a difficult game for us, but we have to face it with the aim of recovering the good feelings and results that we have been achieving in the last seven league games. We want to turn Thursday's game into a bad day.