The Chilean tactician has guided the team from mid-table to competing for a place in the Champions League, as well as the final of the 2022 Copa del Rey.
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The appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the head coach of Real Betis last summer is proving to be a game changer in the team’s fortunes. In the Andalusia region of Spain, Betis have long been shadowed by their bitter rivals Sevilla, but the Green and white have been on the rise since the last two years, especially this campaign, under the stewardship of Pellegrini. The Chilean tactician has guided the team from mid-table to competing for a place in the Champions League, as well as the final of the 2022 Copa del Rey.
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An armband for the ages.#BetisAlé pic.twitter.com/NGpIMIPxmn
— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) April 22, 2022
Betis will face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday and if they could overcome the Bats, it would be another feather in the cap for Pellegrini, who has had a stellar coaching career with some of the best European clubs.
Pellegrini is the holder of the highest win percentage at four different clubs in La Liga: Villarreal, Real Madrid, Malaga, and now Betis. With the exception of Real Madrid where he had an unceremonious exit, the Chilean arguably has hero status at all three of the other clubs. Apart from Spain, the 68-year-old also had an impressive spell with Manchester city, winning the Premier League in 2014 and two English League Cup trophies.
In La Liga, Betis currently sits fifth in the standings with 57 points from 33 games, just four points away from the top four and this season is already gearing up to be the club’s most successful campaign in 17 years, when they won the Copa del Rey for the second time in their history, following up their first win in 1977.
Betis play with a 4-2-3-1 formation with more emphasis on moving the ball quickly into attacking positions. Pellegrini didn’t make too many changes to the squad, instead he tweaked the system a little bit. Earlier, the Betis side played attacking players without playing attacking football. Most opponents simply waited patiently to spring into space Betis would leave behind.
The two attacking midfielders are the fulcrum of the team. Nabil Fekir occupies the middle of the front three while Canales would play at the wide right side of the trident. The two left-footed players Fekir and Canales roam more-or-less with the width of the box but at different depths.
Behind these two, there is a three-man guard led by Mexico captain Andres Guadrado, William Carvalho and Guido Rodruguez. The latter will be charged with short-circuiting counters, while others must provide options in the spaces where Canales is not.
With five more league games to go, the prospect of European football for next season is very much on the horizon. If Pellegrini’s side can get get some positive results against third-placed Barcelona and leaders Real Madrid in the upcoming fixtures, the Green and White are very well on course to challenge for Champions league qualification.
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