Pellegrini: "We are the team that always wanted to win"

MADRID, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The coach of Real Betis, Manuel Pellegrini, was "bitter" with the defeat (1-2) this Sunday against Atlético de Madrid, with two goals in the second half, in a match in which they were the team that came out " to win" at the Benito Villamarín.

"The game gave much more, let's not go to the arbitration issue. It was very simple. A team that came out not to lose, won. And a team that came out to win, lost. As happens many times in football. They went 0- 1 without ever having shot on goal, with bad luck. The team continued to play the same, they made us the second", he said.

The Chilean coach pointed out that, with everything, they were able to tie in the end, but that they lost to an Atlético team that knows how to play well as they did. "We tried to cut back and in the end we had a stick that gave us the least we deserved, which was a draw," he said.

"Atleti play that way, to defend themselves with nine men very well and they are dangerous with a counterattack. They never caught us. We lacked a little more creativity with such a closed team. We dominated the entire match until 0-1, we a little more creativity or risk was lacking. We are the team that always wanted to win," he added.

In addition, Pellegrini ruled out Luiz Henrique until after the World Cup and explained that Sabaly's injury will require further testing. The Betis coach valued the return of Fekir, who closed the gap in the 84th minute. "We didn't get into the game with Fekir, we were in the game from the first minute," he said.

"He comes from a muscle injury, it was important that he not relapse, he could play 20 minutes at the most. I am very happy with the way the team played and very bitter about the result," he concluded.