Real Betis succumbed on their visit to Mestalla in a bad match in which few green and white players were saved from burning. Manuel Pellegrini was not too successful with the changes either.since the first arrived when Valencia had already seen the end of the clash after ten minutes of horror from the Heliopolitan team at the beginning of the second half. It is true that Lo Celso was already ready on the wing before conceding the fourth goalbut many wondered why the Argentine did not come out directly after the break.
Before the game, the Chilean coach justified the absence of the Rosario player, who already returned against Celta after his injury, by the need to distribute efforts given the tough schedule ahead. “More than a long week of games, it is a long month with nine, we have to try to dose and have people on the bench to maintain what we are doing or improve it. To the extent we need it, Lo Celso, who arrived on Thursday from a long trip and is coming back from an injuryhe will be able to play,” he explained in Betis TV.
Instead, The one chosen to act again in the midfielder was Iker Losada, who linked two titles for the first time consecutive after also starting the day before the break. But the Galician, far from taking advantage of the opportunity, He was one of the most unfortunate footballers of the Betic team in an even first half despite everything.
To the former Racing de Ferrol It has been difficult for him to gain the trust of the ‘Engineer’. He did not make his debut in a league eleven until matchday eight, against Espanyol, having previously played only 27 minutes spread over three games. But after missing out again in the derby, He has managed to turn his situation around, participating in the last five duels in LaLigaas well as in the Copa del Rey clash against the modest CD Gévora, where he scored an assist.
Cannot participate in the Conference League
Its greater prominence, however, also responds to another important reason. “He is not registered in the Conference League and we have to give him minutes now to be in the three competitions”admitted Pellegrini before getting the ball rolling at Mestalla.
Despite participating in the two play off games against Kryvbas, the Catoria player was one of the three discarded for the League Phase of the third European competition (along with Fran Vieites and Isco) and, therefore, cannot enter the rotations ahead of the three decisive continental clashes that await before the Christmas break: against Mladá Boleslav this coming Thursday, with Petroclub on December 12 and against HJK Helsinki on the 19th. Due to this, and also having to face a long list of casualties, the green and white coach is little less than forced to have Iker Losada ‘plugged in’ through LaLiga.