Pellegrini urges Betis to focus on the first match ahead of a nine-game run

With competition about to resume, Manuel Pellegrini has urged Betis to look no further than their opening fixture, against Osasuna. A run of nine matches in 28 days follows, but the coach declined to say how he would distribute playing time.

“The most important thing is to focus on the first match and find the best team to win it,” he said. “Right now, we are thinking only about Osasuna.” Pellegrini also dismissed the idea that favourable previous results against the opponent should influence the game. “Every match is different,” he warned, describing a side with good players, an important goalscorer and a recognisable style of play. In his view, relying on statistics to believe a win is assured would be the worst approach.

The schedule ahead has also informed his view of international breaks. Pellegrini believes a three-week pause is too long for a championship and favours the previous system, with three shorter breaks.

He also outlined the different stakes in the competitions: in the league, a defeat costs three points that cannot be recovered; in the cup, it means elimination, while in the Champions League a group-stage defeat does not rule out qualification. “We will approach all three with the same seriousness,” he said.

Asked about Diego Conde, who has yet to make his debut, Pellegrini said the goalkeeper is dealing with a complicated shoulder injury and working to regain his rhythm. He described Álvaro Vallés as being in “a very good moment”. He also said that a player was part of the squad and would get playing time, without the quoted wording identifying who he meant. On Giovani Lo Celso, he highlighted his quality and importance to the team, adding that he hoped he would recover as soon as possible and return to the team’s rhythm.

Finally, Pellegrini said Betis’s lack of goals showed they needed to improve their finishing so they could close out matches with a more comfortable margin.