Their Copa de Rey win last season, clinched in a titanic, tense, moody battle with Valencia in Los Verdiblancos‘s home city, Sevilla, was only their second trophy (depending one whether you count the second division) in 45 years. Almost as fundamental is the fact that Betis play well. Really well. Convincing, fun, daring, attacking football: you could say they are “exemplary” again.
Last Friday, they went top of LaLiga by beating Osasuna. The two highlights were Borja Iglesias‘ world-class goal — I’d argue there wasn’t a better strike anywhere in Europe this weekend — and the utter bedlam when Pellegrini’s team went down to 10 men because of German Pezzella‘s red card. Instead of voicing any panic, the stadium erupted into a ferocious display of ear-shattering, raucous “we’ll-see-you-through-this-boys!’ singing, cheering and dancing as they urged out-numbered Betis to defend the one-goal margin.
It worked, too, as they held out for the final 15 minutes and took all three points.
In any sport, when you get a fusion of talent, tactics and determination from the athletes, plus passionate evangelical faith and enjoyment from the crowd, it can be life-enhancing to witness. For his part in it all, Pellegrini finds it easy to explain his formula.
“At Betis, I wanted to establish a certain style of football, like I’ve done at every club,” he said. “I like my teams to play fast, direct football while maintaining possession. I want to see them moving out of our own half with as few touches as possible. Then, in the last third, it’s all about converting our chances. It takes so much work to make it to the final third that you really need to capitalise by putting the ball away.”
Laudable to aim for and hard to achieve, but it’s truly lovely to watch.
One of his mercurial tricks is that you could pick six or seven of Pellegrini’s mainstay footballers and not only conclude, without hesitation, that they’re playing the best football of their career, but that they’ve achieved that benchmark since the 67-year-old Chilean took charge.
Nabil Fekir was one of those precious players who erroneously believed that talent and outrageous chutzpah would be enough to make him special. Now the Frenchman is leaner, more muscular and far more effective. He’s also much wealthier due to earning a succulent contract extension. The Betis fans would walk over hot coals for him; to them, he’s a deity. There’s your Pellegrini influence.
Centre-forward Iglesias is suddenly scoring for fun again. He admitted after beating Osasuna that “I’m in the best form of my career” and the man known as “El Panda” now permanently wears that infectious smile on his face. At this point, it’s not outrageous to suggest that he’s got a chance of going to the 2022 World Cup with Spain later this year.
How about Alex Moreno, their flying wing-back? Or free-scoring Juanmi? How about Guido Rodriguez, who arrived as a shy Argentine midfielder and couldn’t conceive that he might one day play alongside Lionel Messi for the national team, but who’s now a central figure for the Albiceleste and a Copa America winner? All these guys, and several others, are hitting new heights thanks to Pellegrini’s teaching.
