Real Betis manager Gabriel Calderón insists that the midweek European win at Sevilla and the second-leg next week are out of mind, ahead of facing Elche in La Liga on Sunday.
Though the team and the fans had plenty to celebrate after Thursday’s first-leg win at Sevilla in the Europa League, Betis manager Calderón underlined that his team have no time to pause, given the importance of getting three points at Elche on Sunday.
“We’re happy, we’re motivated, but we’re already thinking of Sunday’s game, which is another final for us. We haven’t got time to relax or celebrate, even though it’s a joyous time. The players are well aware of the situation we’re in. Ahead of the second-leg in Europe, we have to focus on tomorrow’s game. There’s absolutely no margin for error.”
Calderón isn’t happy that his team have been scheduled for the midday game on Sunday, rather than one of the later slots, suggesting that his team are being penalised unfairly.
“I cannot understand why those playing that have played in Europe on a Thursday, are given a midday game on Sunday in La Liga. I really don’t understand that sort of organisation. It’s a shame we haven’t got more time to recover, it should be more normal. We are disadvantaged compared to those who haven’t played in Europe already. Physically, I’m not sure how it will affect us, but hopefully we’ll be up to the level we’ve been demonstrating lately.”
As for whether his team can still avoid relegation, Calderón speculated that it will all depend on Sunday’s result, as to what chances remain afterwards.
“Getting three points on Sunday will be really important, so that we’re not slipping further behind or so we can try to cut the distance, if any of the teams above us don’t win. Also, there’s direct confrontations. If we don’t win, then we’ll have to see how the numbers add up.”
Elche manager Fran Escribá had highlighted in his own press call, that Betis are a side built for better things than their league position would suggest. Calderón believes that his team are now finally starting to show that.
“I have no doubts about the quality of my team. We want to end up showing game by game, the standards of the team we’ve been showing now.”
Despite the difficulties of having such a short space of time to prepare for their La Liga encounter, Calderón explained that he will rotate players if he needs to, hoping that tiredness doesn’t affect performance against Elche.
“We’re in a situation where we have to adapt quickly to every situation. We can’t make excuses, we have to go out there with everything we’ve got. Then we’ll see if the legs respond or not. We may have to make some changes, but we’ll have to continue looking at the evolution of the players, for any tiredness.”
Though the team and the fans had plenty to celebrate after Thursday’s first-leg win at Sevilla in the Europa League, Betis manager Calderón underlined that his team have no time to pause, given the importance of getting three points at Elche on Sunday.
“We’re happy, we’re motivated, but we’re already thinking of Sunday’s game, which is another final for us. We haven’t got time to relax or celebrate, even though it’s a joyous time. The players are well aware of the situation we’re in. Ahead of the second-leg in Europe, we have to focus on tomorrow’s game. There’s absolutely no margin for error.”
Calderón isn’t happy that his team have been scheduled for the midday game on Sunday, rather than one of the later slots, suggesting that his team are being penalised unfairly.
“I cannot understand why those playing that have played in Europe on a Thursday, are given a midday game on Sunday in La Liga. I really don’t understand that sort of organisation. It’s a shame we haven’t got more time to recover, it should be more normal. We are disadvantaged compared to those who haven’t played in Europe already. Physically, I’m not sure how it will affect us, but hopefully we’ll be up to the level we’ve been demonstrating lately.”
As for whether his team can still avoid relegation, Calderón speculated that it will all depend on Sunday’s result, as to what chances remain afterwards.
“Getting three points on Sunday will be really important, so that we’re not slipping further behind or so we can try to cut the distance, if any of the teams above us don’t win. Also, there’s direct confrontations. If we don’t win, then we’ll have to see how the numbers add up.”
Elche manager Fran Escribá had highlighted in his own press call, that Betis are a side built for better things than their league position would suggest. Calderón believes that his team are now finally starting to show that.
“I have no doubts about the quality of my team. We want to end up showing game by game, the standards of the team we’ve been showing now.”
Despite the difficulties of having such a short space of time to prepare for their La Liga encounter, Calderón explained that he will rotate players if he needs to, hoping that tiredness doesn’t affect performance against Elche.
“We’re in a situation where we have to adapt quickly to every situation. We can’t make excuses, we have to go out there with everything we’ve got. Then we’ll see if the legs respond or not. We may have to make some changes, but we’ll have to continue looking at the evolution of the players, for any tiredness.”