Gus Poyet admits Real Betis are “praying” no clubs come in for Ruben Castro after calling for calm from fans ahead of Deportivo La Coruna on Friday.
Castro upped his goal count to 124 in little over 200 League appearances for Betis during their 6-2 defeat to Barcelona last week as he scored a consolation brace, prompting Poyet to fear that a lucrative Asian club may swoop in with “the millions a player like him deserves”.
“I get the feeling that maybe the city and Betis family have yet to change their mindset from last year,” the Coach said at a Press conference.
“I wish they were more quiet, relaxed and patient. In order to judge the players and coaching staff, they have to wait a few more games.
“The first matchday was [characterised by] this nervousness, and it seems that tomorrow’s game is the World Cup final, but I don’t see it that way.
“I prefer to wait for us to show what we can do and then I’ll accept being the one most responsible.
“The team are approaching [the match] in a good way. Like any football team that lose a game, there were two days of disappointment, but now we’re focused on the Depor and only thinking about them.
“[On Castro], my opinion hasn’t changed since we played Sporting [CP]. Ruben has a contract with us, and at no time has he lost his head.
“It’s an open market and things happen that I have no control over. It creates uncertainty, but I can’t control it.
“If nothing happens [before Friday] then he will be on the pitch and plugged in.
“I want him to stay, that I have no doubts about. Will he stay? We’ll be praying every day until the 31st that nobody comes in with the millions a player like him deserves.”
