Marc Bartra says the Champions League is “even more special” with Betis

“Playing in the Champions League with Betis is even more special,” Marc Bartra says. The defender has already experienced the competition with Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, but says this campaign feels different in the club’s colours: he has witnessed its progress and developed a sense of belonging there.

“It is a huge privilege to play in the Champions League. I was very fortunate to do so with Barcelona during some wonderful years, and then in Dortmund. But playing it with Betis after years of growth gives you a sense of belonging and makes it even more special,” he said. The connection with supporters matters to him, too: “It is lovely that children remember us as the first Betis team they saw in the Champions League. It is something we will value.”

Bartra links that journey to the club’s transformation. When he arrived, he explained, Betis had been in the second division three or four years earlier. The side then continued to develop, with the coach’s arrival helping it progress year by year. “He instilled a winning mentality in us and calm in difficult moments,” Bartra said.

The defender also praised his coach, whom he considers one of the best in the world. He credits him with helping him grow “in mentality, security and the confidence to lead.” Bartra added that the coach demonstrates leadership through actions as well as words, and that the squad should follow his example.

The team’s European opening has reinforced its belief in the direction it is taking. “Against Lille, we stood our ground, and that gives you the reassurance that we are on the right path,” Bartra recalled. He nevertheless expects difficult spells: “You can concede a goal, but you must not let your heads drop.”

For Bartra, setbacks can either hurt deeply or become an opportunity to learn and grow. He believes the team has turned things around in difficult moments through greater maturity and by pulling together. That collective progress, in his view, is part of what makes the Champions League with Betis so meaningful.