Manuel Pellegrini and Betis welcome Malaga: "It was three wonderful years, but that is behind us"

Manuel Pellegrini and Betis face Málaga: “They were three wonderful years, but that is in the past” The green and whites will take on the Costa del Sol team, a side to which the Engineer took them to their only Champions League appearance, but who is currently last in LaLiga. "It's part of the past, and that needs to be left behind when you measure up against them," warned the Chilean coach. Manuel Pellegrini's Betis returns after a week away. The tragic train accident in Toledo forced the postponement of Wednesday's match against Navalcarnero for the King's Cup. Thus, this Saturday's duel against Málaga appears as the perfect opportunity to stay at the top of LaLiga. The event that claimed the lives of more than 50 people mourned the Iberian country, a situation that left no one indifferent to the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the organizing body for the cup competition. The Betis delegation was already in the Community of Madrid, while their rival had proposed playing on Thursday. However, the Chilean manager did not agree to this solution, wanting to prioritize his players' rest in a very tight schedule. Aside from the match against Málaga, the Sevillian team must travel to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund on November 4th for the fourth round of the Champions League group stage. In that scenario, the RFEF decided to set another date for the green and white team's commitment against the fourth-tier squad. Thus, the body arranged for the match to be played during the next FIFA window, between November 9th and 17th. "We thought it was not appropriate to play on Thursday; we would have had to postpone the league game until Sunday, and on Wednesday we have to play Champions League. The suspension was more than logical. The break was the best date for them to play. Sometimes friendlies are held in those weeks, so it's the best time to play that round, although some players will certainly be missing," stated Pellegrini. Regarding potential absences for that cup match, the Chilean manager warned that "the Irishman Troy Parrott surely won't be there, but we will see how Cucho recovers (Hernández, Colombian). We also have Deossa or Aitor Ruibal, who are completely available." An old acquaintance In the eleventh round, the opposing team will be the newly promoted Málaga, a side that is also from the Andalusia region. The blue and white squad is last in the LaLiga standings but arrives energized after defeating Deportivo Alavés in their last match, their only victory in the tournament. "The players are arriving well for the game. Now we face at home against a team that plays well, despite being last. We are aware and conscious that we need to score all three points as hosts whom we lost to Barcelona," stated the Engineer. The Chilean managed the Malagueño side from 2010 to 2013, the best seasons in the club's history. After reaching the quarterfinals in the 2011-’12 season, the Costa del Sol team played their only Champions League campaign the following year, a tournament in which they were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals due to controversial refereeing decisions. "They were unforgettable years, but that is in the past. It is true that I have great affection for the institution and the entire Malaga area. But that is part of the past, so all that affection must be set aside when you measure up against them. We need to win the three points. First, we will overcome the issue of Málaga, and then we think about Borussia. Many years have passed, as it did with Alcorcón," affirmed Pellegrini. COMMENTS To comment on this article, you must be a subscriber. Latest Most read 1. 2. 5. Some read, others inform themselves. Take advantage of this unique offer. Digital Plan+$4,120 per month, until the end of the year SUBSCRIBE