Pellegrini hails Betis' perfect Champions League run: "A giant step forward"

Real Betis secured their third straight win in the Champions League league phase by beating Feyenoord, and Manuel Pellegrini made no effort to hide his satisfaction. Isco's solitary goal at La Cartuja leaves the Andalusian outfit with a perfect nine points from their opening three games and more than half the job done in the race for the next round.

• Betis beat Feyenoord 1-0 with a goal from Isco and now boast a perfect record in the Champions League.
• Pellegrini called the win "a giant step forward" towards qualification for the next stage.
• The coach praised the team's first-half display and their defensive solidity after the goal.
• He thanked the La Cartuja crowd for their backing and valued the clean sheet.
• Antony's substitution was purely a technical decision, according to the manager.

Pellegrini's verdict on the win over Feyenoord

Manuel Pellegrini described the 1-0 victory against the Dutch side as one of those results that define a team's European journey. "It was a very important win against a great rival," said the Chilean coach, aware that Betis have put themselves in a privileged position in the group. Victories over Lille, Porto and Feyenoord give the Seville-based side valuable breathing room with five games still to play.

We played a brilliant first half and in the second, after the goal, I liked how the team defended in every area. Whenever they arrived, there was always something that made them uncomfortable.

The manager split the match into two clearly different phases. From the first half he highlighted the attacking flow and control of the game; from the second, the maturity shown in closing down spaces when Feyenoord pushed for an equaliser. In his view, knowing how to handle that situation is a sign of growth for a squad that wants to compete in Europe on a regular basis.

Betis close in on European qualification

With three wins already secured, Betis are edging closer to their first continental target: reaching the next stage. Still, Pellegrini refused to take anything for granted. "We have taken a giant step forward in the hunt for our first qualification. It does not mean we will not play the remaining matches with the same ambition. Hopefully we can maintain this level," he admitted.

The demanding standards behind Betis' perfect start

Betis' start to this Champions League campaign is no accident. The schedule has not been easy and yet the team have responded with authority against opponents used to fighting for titles in their domestic leagues. "The balance is very positive because it is not easy to achieve in the Champions League and we have also beaten very tough teams who are leaders in their leagues," said the Chilean.

Pellegrini trusts that the dressing room will keep their competitive edge despite the impressive start. There are fifteen points still up for grabs and the goal is to avoid any drop in intensity, no matter how well on track qualification may seem.

The La Cartuja factor and a hard-earned clean sheet

The Betis manager also took time to acknowledge the crowd's encouragement throughout the ninety minutes. "They support us at all times and that is very important for us. They backed us from the very first moment and that helped us strengthen the work of the defensive line," he said. That continuous backing, in a stadium that has become a real fortress for Betis this season, proved vital in holding onto the lead during the final stretch.

Another detail that left Pellegrini pleased was the clean sheet. The team had been conceding goals with some regularity in recent matches, and breaking that trend against a quality opponent is a major mental boost for the back line. "I also really liked that we kept a clean sheet," he confessed.

Why Antony came off against Feyenoord

One of the questions that emerged from the match was Antony's substitution. Pellegrini moved quickly to rule out any speculation about a physical issue or a disagreement with the Brazilian. "The change is a technical decision," he stated firmly, making it clear that there is nothing more behind his choice.