Isco, in each of Betis’ four Liga performances so far — two wins, one draw and even the one defeat — has won the sponsors’ MVP award. It’s pretty remarkable, too: This guy who has always defended his right to have the occasional glass of cerveza, to munch on crisps or to swig a soft drink, is suddenly not only demonstrating his beautiful, intoxicating technical skills, but is as fit and sharp as at any time in the past 10 years.
So seductive has his play been that, after starring in Betis’ latest win, a 1-0 result against Rayo Vallecano, our guy left the field to raucous stadium-wide chants of “Isco, Isco … ISCOOOO!” It’s astonishing not just in context of his participation, for Malaga and Real Madrid, in absolutely thrashing Betis (4-0, 6-1, 5-3), but for the simple fact of having played for Sevilla.
Teams who share a city don’t tend to get along. That’s a given. But this broiling, heaving, passionate, noisy, intense city adds significant edge.
When Derbi day comes, it’s literally extraordinary. Venomous dislike has been stoked by envy. Sevilla are the posh (pijo) club that always looked down on their blue-collar, but green-and-white-shirted, rivals. The fact that Sevilla have been on a massive trophy spree over the past couple of decades — including five Europa League titles since 2013 — has added a supercilious sneer to how they regard “the working-class club.”
If you’ve played for either one of these two, it’s usually inadvisable to dally with joining the other. To aim for adoration at the Benito Villamarin, having been a rojiblanco, is akin to suggesting using a big trampoline to reach the moon. Ludicrous. Thus, Isco’s progress is already a beguiling sight.
So too is his off-field strategy: Having deliberately ducked media interviews for years, Betis’ newest star decided to address his critics. He recently told Marca: “I dislike how many sports journalists behave. It’s ‘break the news first and check the facts second.’ That can cause damage to players and our families. We’re people too.
“I have no problem acknowledging the part I played in some of what’s happened, but I definitely wasn’t responsible for everything.”
The incident with Monchi is fundamental in Isco needing to seek redemption — ironically in the same city, Sevilla, but at the “enemy” club, Betis, where the fans who once despised him currently chant his name with adoration. And all this after just four games!
