Satisfied with the win, and disappointed by the injury setbacks, his mind is already on the derby. This is how Manuel Pellegrini showed himself after the victory over FC Utrecht. “It was an eventful match, with an incredible injury between Amrabat and Isco … “Two or three big hits for both teams,” the coach said after the match. He was asked about the players’ condition and ruled them out of the match in Nervion against Sevilla. “Isco will not be on Sunday. It is impossible. They gave him seven stitches, and although there is no bone or muscle injury, it will take some time to recover. Neither has arrived, unless Amrabat has recovered very well. The doctors will tell you. As for the condition of his ankle, it is difficult. It is important that Isco recovers from the blow and the injury he suffered,” he told Movistar.
The win paved the way for a place in the top eight. “Very important because it brought us closer to qualifying for the next round and now we will see how far that will allow us to go. It was a good match with many scoring chances. It was difficult for us to score goals. What I liked most about the team is the intensity because they handle the ball very well. We controlled the game in the first 45 minutes and practically did not reach them, except on one occasion after the injury. “We had a fairly adequate reach and process.”
The derby is a private duel, and that’s the way the engineer understands it. “Certainly everyone in the city is waiting for the match between the two teams. We both arrived injured and the important thing is to focus on finding the three key points in La Liga and giving joy to the fans. “These are three points that are no less important than the others, but we know what they mean for both sides.”
Both teams will face this confrontation with a fair number of casualties. “Sevilla also had the misfortune of injuring two or three people in the last match. Now it’s our turn, but both teams have squads and the players will give a boost to this match. We will go out from the first minute to search for the three points, regardless of the players who play for them. We have neither more nor less possibilities for these infections than before. “I never complained about those who weren’t there,” he recalls. He commented on Isco, saying: “He is in a bad situation because his luck is very bad,” but he also stressed that “he is very strong and mature and will recover quickly. What happened in Amrabat are things that happen on the football field.”
Regarding the possibility of Pablo Garcia’s participation, he noted, “First we will see the team’s recovery starting tomorrow. We do not have Isco, Lo Celso, Bellerin, Amrabat, Pau Lopez or Anthony, unless they give him the precautionary measure. We will see who will start.” He was asked about the Chilean national team and possible talks with this federation in order to guide the South American national team. “I did not speak with the president of the federation, and there is no delegation here. I am very committed to Betis and would like to coach in the Copa America. He repeated: “My situation is not arrogant, but rather I am focused on Sunday’s match.”
When asked about his emotional state after these setbacks with Utrecht, he downplayed their importance and appreciated the team he coaches. “These are things that happen in the field. It happened to us today. I don’t think we can resort to the fact that these players don’t exist. We have a team and these players are the ones who have to show their faces. “The team performed well against Utrecht, and on Sunday we are thinking about the derby with those who are in the best form.”