Pellegrini Praises Guimarães Ahead of Conference League Clash

The Chilean manager of Real Betis, Manuel Pellegrini, has showered compliments on Vitória de Guimarães, as the two teams prepare for the second leg of their Europa Conference League round of 16 encounter. Pellegrini expressed confidence in his squad, stating they are "well-prepared and full of confidence" for the challenge that lies ahead.

"I don’t expect Guimarães to take a different approach than they did in Seville. They are a team that likes to play, boasting technical players eager to secure a victory. Whether they press high or sit deep, Vitória will always play with an attacking mindset. We must control the game with the ball to create chances," he noted during a press conference.

Anticipating the tie, Pellegrini assured that Vitória would be keen to make a mark in their history. The coach for Guimarães responded, praising the Spanish side while referencing Pellegrini's previous comments, saying, "Their coach mentioned we only had two shots on target to win, perhaps we need to attempt more this time around."

Pellegrini dismissed the notion that this is the most critical match in Betis’ recent European history, asserting he wasn’t surprised by Guimarães’ performance in Seville. “I wasn’t surprised; I've watched them play many times. Guimarães have gone several matches without defeat, changed their manager, but their playing style remains difficult to counter, as we experienced at home. We drew, didn’t lose, and had chances to win. Tomorrow, we need a Betis side that plays with character in pursuit of victory,” he emphasized.

When discussing Portuguese teams in UEFA competitions and reminiscing about his time managing Málaga and eliminating FC Porto in 2013, Pellegrini had high praise for the quality of Portuguese football. “Portuguese teams are very strong. Vitória is among those teams trying to progress. We, too, will aim to eliminate them. Even in the Champions League and Europa League, Portuguese clubs often reach advanced stages,” he remarked.

Finally, the seasoned 71-year-old manager stressed the importance of taking one match at a time rather than fixating on winning the Conference League. "I want the team to show they can advance further. The final is still a long way off; we need to focus on reaching the quarter-finals. One poor performance can see you eliminated, regardless of your previous efforts," he concluded.

Resource: A Bola Article