Real Betis defeated Elche 2-0 on the road, a result manager Manuel Pellegrini described as “very complete” in a “difficult” setting.
The match remained even through the first half, Pellegrini conceded. The decisive shift came after the break. “Our second half was complete and we went out to seek the game,” the Betis coach told reporters. The Elche goalkeeper made several important saves, but the visitors’ pressure was too much.
Substitutes influenced the performance. “We made them to refresh positions, but the team was already playing well,” Pellegrini said. “The important thing is the three points.” The coach celebrated Marc Bartra’s goal from a set piece, a highlight of the team’s attacking play.
Nelson Deossa, the Colombian midfielder, was among the players lauded for their performance, which contributed to a clean sheet and a dominant second-half display.
When asked if this represented the team’s best moment since his arrival, Pellegrini chose not to focus on a single game. “I don’t focus on a moment, but on the maturation of a project,” he explained.
“This was a game for a big team, trying to be with the big teams.” The Chilean stressed the importance of consistency, noting that “seasons have to be finished and there is still a long way to go.”
The manager expressed confidence that the team would approach their next match in the Copa del Rey with the same high level of performance they have shown in La Liga and the Champions League.
The coach also commented on striker Evan Ferguson Parrott, who has struggled to find the net recently. Pellegrini wished the Irish player would find the confidence with his national team that he has not yet found at the club level. The manager did, however, note that even without scoring, Parrott “provides important things” to the team, suggesting a value that extends beyond goals.
Real Betis will now shift its focus to the Copa del Rey, where they will make their debut in the competition.
