Pepe Mel has asserted that Real Betis must win the Seville derby tonight so as to remain in the fight for European qualification.
Los Beticos head into Friday evening’s derby at home to Sevilla seventh in La Liga, level on points with Malaga in sixth.
“We will try to look to our best qualities and to harm the rival, this is no surprise,” reflected Mel in his pre-match address.
“Once it has gone very well and on another occasion it went very badly [5-1 defeat last November]. There are variables that a Coach cannot control and that can affect the game.
“We have 47 points and are working well. We have ambition for that purpose. We have to go out with the same intensity, in what we do. Too many words about the game are emotional, you become stressed.
“It is very important to me that we are six points ahead. Betis and Rayo Vallecano are the only teams that have met their objectives by this week. If we win, we will be fully prepared to enter into the fight for Europe. We aspire to be excellent.
“A draw for Betis before the game is not worth anything. It is another thing after the game, though. We cannot assert that a draw would leave us in the fight for Europe.”
