Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini stated this Saturday that Celta Vigo arrives with high morale following a victory over Celtic in Glasgow, though the coach expects to take advantage of the physical toll of Thursday fixtures ahead of Sunday's tenth-round LaLiga EA Sports encounter at Balaídos, HolaNews reported.
Manuel Pellegrini Assesses Celta Vigo Midweek Europa League Toll
Pelligrini addressed reporters following training at the club sports city, noting that he has consistently relied on the argument of European fixture wear across five seasons managing Betis in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League. However, the manager maintained that the midweek turnaround is not decisive, warning that no one should expect an easier opponent because Celta boss Claudio Giráldez actively rotates his squad.
The Santiago-born coach expects the Vigo side to deploy different personnel while maintaining their established tactical mechanics. He emphasized the strong overall functioning of an opponent whose squad depth permits regular rotation by the coaching staff.
Squad Absences and Roster Management for Real Betis
Betis enters Sunday fixture dealing with several confirmed squad absences. Left-back Junior Firpo and forward Cucho Hernández remain sidelined with injuries, while midfielder Facundo Bernal serves a suspension.
Amid those personnel gaps, Pellegrini highlighted two players who have featured less prominently during the opening stretch of the campaign. Midfielder Dani Ceballos is incorporating himself correctly into the setup, while Argentine playmaker Gio Lo Celso has returned to peak form after recovering from a serious injury, delivering what the manager called a great performance against Barcelona.
🟢👕 Alineación probable del @RealBetis para su visita al Celta de Vigo.👀 Manuel Pellegrini volverá a tirar de rotaciones y jugadores como Ceballos o Lo Celso apuntan a la titularidad.#ZonaMixta https://t.co/XdmHSmtgzM
Antony Dos Santos Integration and Isco Alarcón Physical Recovery
Pellegrini expressed zero concern regarding the current scoring drought of Brazilian forward Antony dos Santos. The manager noted that Antony runs extensively, recovers possession, and participates actively in buildup play, though he acknowledged that a touch of anxiety might be affecting the final pass or finish—an area the coaching staff is actively working to correct.
Addressing the broader squad composition, Pellegrini expressed full satisfaction with his roster while cautioning against comparisons to previous seasons. Past Betis squads achieved major milestones, including a Copa del Rey title and a Conference League final appearance.
The manager also praised club captain Isco Alarcón, whose undeniable talent was previously hampered by a persistent injury that required him to play through pain with painkilling injections before matches. Pellegrini confirmed that Isco no longer requires such measures, allowing the midfielder to sustain higher minute counts on the pitch.
Real Betis Travel to Balaídos for LaLiga Round Ten
Real Betis squares off against Celta Vigo on Sunday in round ten of the LaLiga EA Sports season at Estadio de Balaídos.
