GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: A general view during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Manuel Pellegrini, the manager of Real Betis, acknowledges that he is crossing his fingers that experienced goalie Claudio Bravo will be able to play against Rangers.
Prior to their Europa League debut against Michael Beale’s team, the La Liga team is dealing with a goalkeeping issue. Rui Silva, the team’s starting goalkeeper, ruptured a thigh muscle during halftime of Saturday night’s 5-0 loss to Barcelona. For the remainder of the Nou Camp thrashing, Pellegrini was had to use Fran Vietes, his third choice.
If 40-year-old Bravo, a former Barcelona and Manchester City goalkeeper, is unable to recuperate from a calf injury in time to start Spain’s Group C campaign in Glasgow, the 24-year-old back-up option may have to step in once more. Claudio did workout, but Pellegrini is not yet concerned about who will have to put the gloves on. But we won’t know for sure whether Claudio is fully prepared to play against the Rangers until tomorrow.
“I sincerely hope he will be OK, but I cannot guarantee it. However, if you ask me now if I’m worried, I won’t say that I am because if he doesn’t play, we also have a young goalkeeper named Fran Vietes who I much trust.
At the Nou Camp, Pellegrini fielded a star-studded lineup that included five-time Champions League champion Isco, former Barça defender Marc Bartra, and ex-Arsenal player Hector Bellerin. However, his team was easily defeated and showed to be no match for the Catalan kings. And Pellegrini acknowledges that his team will need to battle harder against Gers.
I wouldn’t say that we’re not disturbed by what happened at the weekend, the former Villarreal manager added, drawing on his past encounters with the Old Firm. Even if we had triumphed 5-0, we still wouldn’t feel at ease. Our only concern right now is the upcoming game versus the Rangers.
“When I was here in 2006, Villarreal and I were able to advance to the semifinals of the Champions League. A few years back, Betis and we played Celtic, and despite losing, we still made it out of the group.
“I believe I understand Scottish football well. The focus is on intensity, direct play, fighting for every goal, and moving as swiftly as can from box to box. Tomorrow, we must think about the intensity.
Last year, Betis advanced to the round of 16, but this season, Pellegrini wants to finish first. The first game of the group is against Rangers at home, and we want to start off well, he stated.
“In my first season at the club, we lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in extra time, and they went on to win the competition. The next year, we finished first in our group but fell to Man United in the knockout round after two close matches. As we enter our third season, we aim to advance even further. We aim to triumph.
