Manuel Pellegrini did not attempt to soften the blow after Real Betis’ heavy 5–1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. Speaking after the match, the Betis coach delivered a blunt assessment of the result while offering a more nuanced view of how the game unfolded beneath the scoreline.
“A very negative assessment, of course,” Pellegrini said. “When you lose 5–1, there can’t be a positive assessment.”
Despite the emphatic final margin, Pellegrini felt the match was more balanced for long stretches
than the score suggested — particularly before Real Madrid’s late surge.
“There were moments where the scoreline didn’t reflect what was happening,” he explained. “They were winning 3–1 with two goals from set pieces. We were very disorganized — both goals came from headers with players completely unmarked. At the same time, we hit the woodwork twice and Courtois made a good save.”
For Pellegrini, the defining factor was not Madrid’s open-play dominance, but Betis’ inability to defend dead-ball situations — a flaw that proved fatal against elite opposition.
“What frustrates me most is conceding two goals from set pieces,” he said. “They can score against us, but not with players heading the ball completely unmarked in the box. A corner or a free kick can completely unbalance a match.”
The Chilean coach pointed out that Madrid’s early territorial control didn’t initially translate into chances beyond the opening corner, while Betis finished the first half more strongly and competed well after the break.
“In the second half, we outplayed them,” Pellegrini insisted. “But they scored two goals, went up 3–1, and that practically ended the game. We could have pulled one back with a shot that hit the post, but there’s also an element of luck.”
Still, Pellegrini refused to attribute the defeat solely to defensive personnel, calling it a collective failure — and noting the worrying pattern of heavy losses this season.
“It’s the second time this season we’ve conceded five goals,” he said. “Against Barcelona the defense was very poor, and today it wasn’t just the back line — it was the overall defensive performance. We have to improve.”
Asked whether there were any positives to take from the night, Pellegrini was unequivocal.
“No, nothing positive,” he said. “The only thing we try to do — and I think this team has that quality — is play with personality. We don’t want to sit back with ten players and hope to counter. If Real Madrid beat you playing on equal terms at home, that’s to be expected. They’re stronger.”
That philosophy, however, made Betis’ set-piece execution on both ends all the more frustrating.
“We had three or four corners that all ended up in Courtois’ hands,” Pellegrini noted. “Those are very important balls. That’s how games are decided. We have to be self-critical and keep looking ahead.”
Pellegrini also dismissed the idea that Madrid’s lineup — even without certain stars — made the task any easier.
“Facing Real Madrid is always difficult, regardless of the variations in their squad,” he said. “Mbappé is a player they need because he scores a lot, but I said it during the week: they have a squad capable of replacing anyone.”
That depth was on full display through Gonzalo García’s hat-trick, which Pellegrini acknowledged directly.
“Gonzalo proved that today with three excellent goals,” he said. “They’re a very complete team. Their potential isn’t diminished by one or two changes. The team was wounded and played with a lot of desire — but we helped them quite a bit with the goals.”
In the end, Pellegrini accepted the inevitability of the setting: a wounded Real Madrid, elite quality across the pitch, and a home crowd behind them.
“Nothing surprised us,” he concluded. “It’s normal that the home team controls the early minutes. They have a great squad, a great coach, and they’re playing at home. But when you make mistakes like we did, teams like Real Madrid punish you.”
