Pepe rued a lack of luck as Real Madrid were held by Real Betis despite dominating much of the match.
Betis went in front through a stunning Alvaro Cejudo goal but Karim Benzema levelled, Madrid having almost the entirety of the match but proving unable to get a second goal.
“We wanted to win but it wasn’t possible. We fought and worked hard as a team. We equalised in the second half and we have to keep working,” the defender said, AS reports.
“They scored in the first half and then we went well in the match. We pressed with intensity and they couldn’t get out. With a little luck, maybe we’d have had a penalty on Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It’s hard [playing away in La Liga]. We know it is very complicated but we have to keep going. We deserved to win but that’s football.”
Pepe was asked about the decision of Zinedine Zidane to drop Dani Carvajal to the bench for Danilo, and also offered thoughts on the performance of Luka Modric.
“We’re all good players, all have the quality to play, we’re Madrid players. We all want to play,” he noted.
“The most important thing is to work as a team and quickly assimilate the mentality of Zidane.
“We’re improving. Zidane’s idea is to improve the physical side to confront the end of the season.
“Modric? He was very good, helping our attacking game.”
