Monday recovery session clears the central defender
Diego Llorente returned to the training pitch on Monday at the Luis del Sol training ground, joining his Real Betis teammates for a recovery session that cleared his path for upcoming fixtures.
The central defender had been forced off in the 68th minute during Sunday’s match against Celta Vigo after experiencing muscular discomfort that hindered his performance.
Pellegrini confirms a precautionary removal
Manuel Pellegrini addressed the decision during his post-match press conference, confirming that the defender avoided a serious injury when he was pulled from the field.
“He has a small muscular discomfort, which is not an injury, that is preventing him from being at a hundred percent,” Pellegrini stated.
The coaching staff made the substitution as a precaution ahead of a busy fixture schedule. The decision also factored in a yellow card Llorente picked up earlier in the match following a tactical foul in midfield.
Llorente returns for Copa del Rey and La Liga
With his recovery progressing smoothly, Llorente is expected to travel with the squad to Alcorcón for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey first-round clash against Navalcarnero, though Pellegrini will make the final call on his starting status.
The defender is fully expected to feature in this Saturday's La Liga fixture against Málaga at La Cartuja.
Managing broader squad absences
Real Betis continues to manage existing roster gaps alongside Llorente’s swift recovery. Injured player Junior is slated to return to group training this week, while teammate Cucho Hernández remains sidelined alongside the suspended Facundo Bernal.
Worth a look
