Manuel Pellegrini has firmly rejected Jose Mourinho's assessment that Real Betis played defensively to secure their stunning 1-0 victory over Real Madrid at La Cartuja. The Chilean manager insisted his side deserved the win on merit, dismissing suggestions that fortune played a decisive role in the Spanish giants' defeat.
Betis bounced back from a frustrating loss to Levante with a composed performance against one of Europe's elite clubs. Pellegrini remained steadfast in his conviction that his team created genuine opportunities and executed better when it mattered. "I think the team went out to win from the first minute of the match, trying to find the back of the net against a rival like Real Madrid," Pellegrini explained. "We capitalized on our chances and they didn't."
Pellegrini Dismisses Refereeing Influence
Mourinho had also questioned the officiating and suggested excessive physicality from Betis, but Pellegrini pushed back against both claims. The Betis boss argued that referee decisions were not decisive in determining the outcome. "Whether there was one more or one less yellow card, I don't think those were decisive factors," he said. "We didn't win the game because of the referee; we won because we capitalized on our chances and they couldn't convert theirs, either because they were denied by Álvaro Valles or because they missed the penalty they had."
Goalkeeper Álvaro Valles proved instrumental in the contest, making three crucial saves to keep Real Madrid at bay throughout a tense evening. The decisive moment came through substitute Troy Parrott, who demonstrated clinical finishing when he found the back of the net following a knockdown from fellow substitute Nelson Deossa. This crucial strike represented a significant confidence boost for the Irish striker, who had squandered an earlier opportunity against Levante.
Mental Resilience and Consistency
Pellegrini emphasized his consistent philosophy over seven years at Betis: emotional stability and refusing to overreact to individual results. After the Levante defeat, he preached the same message—analyse what went wrong, correct it, and move forward. "Football gives you 24 hours; 24 hours to enjoy a victory, 24 hours to suffer a defeat," he told his squad. This pragmatic approach has defined his tenure in La Liga, building mental strength that enabled Betis to respond with a performance against Madrid that no neutral observer could dispute lacked quality or ambition.
