Pellegrini: "It was balanced, Barça decides with two set pieces"

MADRID, 1 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Real Betis coach, Manuel Pellegrini, regretted the two set pieces in which Barça won (1-2) this Wednesday at the Benito Villamarín, in a "very balanced" match that ended with the great first round of his in LaLiga Santander.

"It was a very balanced game. Both had chances. After two set pieces, Barça decided the game. The players were left demanding, they took it out quickly and caught us off guard. In the second, a corner. We scored a goal, the two of them, is a fair winner," he said at a press conference.

The Chilean coach did not enter into the controversy of the first goal, with the béticos claiming that De Jong did not take the free-kick in the place of the infraction, nor in the expulsion of Carvalho. "I found out recently, I don't know what the reason is. Having closed a first round with a great score, if we have to improve on something it is precisely in the expulsions. It is weighing us down a lot," he said.

"In the first half we had clearer chances than in the second. We didn't have many arrivals, they have scored six goals against Barça in the entire championship, it's not easy, we had to take advantage of the opportunities," he added, explaining the change of Fekir because He was back from injury and, in addition, he had suffered a blow shortly before.

On the other hand, Pellegrini summed up a great first round for a Betis that aspires to the 'Top 4' for access to the Champions League. "A very good first round, in European positions, which is what we aspire to. We have the ambition and the demand to reach the Champions League," he said.

"The better the opponent is, of course you have to play better. Today it was balanced, it was decided in the end by two stopped balls. The mathematics are not exact, but if we repeat 31 points we will be in the European zone. We must try to win the next game and already we will see to the end of the season", finished.