Manuel Pellegrini, the Real Betis head coach, reflected on his team’s victory over Elche, a result that secured fifth place in LaLiga and guaranteed a spot in next season’s Champions League.
“I’m very happy, very pleased with what the team has achieved this season. We’ve overcome painful defeats and injuries. We owed this joy to the fans. It’s a great happiness for us and for every Betico.”
Regarding the second half, he added: “At halftime, we already knew the result from Celta’s game. In the first half, neither side had many chances, but in the second half we came out to win. We scored the second goal and then knew how to defend our lead.”
On the nerves: “We wanted to win so we wouldn’t have to drag this out for two more weeks. There was some tension, it wasn’t easy, but the team managed it.”
Speaking about the fans: “The players had a great campaign, with painful defeats and injuries, but we always bounced back. The supporters backed us a lot, and I think we did a tremendous job. Reaching the Champions League is a great achievement for this squad, given the demands we set from the start. I’m delighted for all Beticos.”
Betis 2–1 Elche: Betis secures Champions League football
Pellegrini also addressed his future: “This is not the time to discuss that. I’ve qualified for the Champions League with all four teams I’ve coached in LaLiga. We’ll see what happens down the road.”