Pepe Mel has a Cup run in his sights, as he promises Real Betis will make amends for last year’s elimination at this round.
Betis were knocked out by Cordoba in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey last term, but in preparing for a trip to Real Valladolid for the first leg of the same stage of the competition this season, Mel has progression in mind.
“Betis, unfortunately for us, only play in two competitions, but what is clear is that this year we have grown a bit more, so we have to give the Copa del Rey the seriousness it deserves. Furthermore, historically, Betis have liked this competition,” he told reporters today.
“Last year our goal was clear, and we played at a time with some doubts, but this year we are lucky in that everything is more settled inside these first three months, whilst we need to keep going at this level. The players are aware of this.
“Last year we faced Cordoba having won at Valencia, but our attention was on the League. This year is different and we will play in every game.
“I hope that what we have been doing in our previous nine games will be delivered again in its fullest. Last year we were favourites and this was shown to be untrue.
“Today we are favourites because this is a game between two Primera Division teams. The League game [earlier this season] was very difficult, either team could have won. We will try everything to get a good result and make sure that the return leg is more relaxed.”
Cup or League, team changes are expected with Mel this season, as he has fiddled with his starting line-up on a weekly basis this term.
“We have changed things for a thousand reasons, some forced, others of my own making. Almost everyone has participated, the results are good, so everyone feels important.
“They know they can each play in every game. This is good for me, because everyone is committed and at an even level, but also bad for me, because I have to always leave out players who are at a good level.”
There is further motivation for Mel to win this midweek test as it marks 100 games in charge of the club.
“I’ll take the good things from this, I have met wonderful people who have given me a lot of love and here there has been nothing bad.
“I have a public that understands that at Betis I am a person that wants for this club and then that the players perform and show their faces.
“Hopefully in my future as a Coach in football is at Betis and it continues in this way.”
