Manuel Pellegrini, the Real Betis coach, has hit out at the fixture list ahead of his side's trip to La Ceramica, where they face Villarreal CF on Monday at 21:00 in matchday 5 of LaLiga 26-27. The Chilean complained about playing three matches in six days, a schedule he said hurts the Villarreal squad just as much.
Fixture pileup under fire
Pellegrini did not hold back in the pre-match press conference. "I don't understand the need to play three matches this week," the Betis coach said, adding that the scheduling was unfair to both clubs: "I thought the fixture planning was very bad, both for us and for Villarreal."
Betis and Villarreal will both play on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, a physical grind that will force both benches to rotate. Pellegrini pointed to the need for squad rotation given the number of games, citing Isco as an example, a player he will not push beyond 50 minutes per match despite considering him fully fit again.
A Villarreal side toiling
The Betis coach also assessed his hosts' situation. Villarreal sit 17th in LaLiga with 2 points from 4 games, 0 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses, and a goal difference of minus 2 after scoring 6 and conceding 8. The club also lost its Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund 3-2, extending a run of five matches without a win and three straight defeats. Villarreal are 10 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Pellegrini played down the numbers. The coaching change at Villarreal, with Inigo taking over, explains part of the dip in results, the Chilean argued, adding that he expects a quick recovery. "A coaching change brings tactical changes, changes in player knowledge and new arrivals," he said, before praising the new coach's ability to restore the team to its usual level.
Parrott, Cucho and Fabian's Ballon d'Or nod
On individual matters, Pellegrini reviewed Troy Parrott's emergence in the Villarreal attack, saying the striker is adapting well with no direct rivalry against Cucho Hernandez for the starting spot up front. The Betis coach also welcomed Fabian's Ballon d'Or nomination, calling it deserved recognition for the midfielder.
Despite the poor league start, Pellegrini placed Villarreal among the sides capable of fighting for a European spot, even with a more modest budget and squad than other clubs near the top of the table.
Next stop, La Ceramica
Monday's game is the rematch of the sides' last meeting, which Real Betis won 2-0 on 17 January. Villarreal, who go into the match with confirmed absences for Juan Foyth and Carlos Romero as listed on the club's injury list, will look to stop the bleeding against a Betis side currently fifth. The club's schedule, available on the fixtures page, shows Monday's 21:00 kickoff on 14 September as the first chance to collect three points after five matches without a win.
