Champions league is coming back to Benito Villamarin.

After many years i finally decide to come back to my favourite game, FM. At the start, of course, i needed to choose a team for me. As i said, after many years of not playing, i wanted to introduced myself with game changes on some easier way.
First idea was some Championship team, or any second divison teams from top 5 leagues. But, one day i watched a time laps of Benito Villamarin new tribune. So, i was thought why not to try bring them back in European elite. i decided, I am going to Andalucia and start, I hope, a beatiful journey.
I must say that my first season is over, so i will write an one short overwiev of my first season.
First day of my arrival, I was introduced with a staff and team. Media prediction was 9th place and transfer budget that was given was a little bit more than 3 mil. euros.
Immedeatly I scanned a team a decide to play with 4-2-3-1 (asymetric). I wanted to start with two classic central midfielders but finaly I put a William in front of defence.



As I said, the starting budget was not great, so i decide to make some changes in team. Kerher was option for a back up to Sidnei, but during the season he showed some great games so he became a partner to Bartra. Alfonso Pedraza was loaned from Villarreal, but due to great games, he was signed permanetly from Yellow submarine. Mazraoui was bought during the winter transfer brake, and with him I completed a position of right back. Emerson was on loan from Barcelona, but after long negotiations Barca didn't want to sell him so I turned myself to some other options.



Betis didn't participating European competitions in this seasons, so i was fully prepared on Primera. The board didn't put a high excpetations on me, but in my vision i wanted to reach at least 6th place and qualifiyng to Euro Cup group stages.

Start of season :
Season started really above my expectations, with 6 wins and 2 draws in my first 8 games. I must say that a really had an lucky with injuries, so all players was on disposal. I must say that before season i make decision to say goodbye to Joaquin and Guardado, but with Fekir and William they become a leaders in my team. After two month of some great games, i camed to difficult period and my team losed 4 matches in a row.
After team meeting, where players reacted really good, i won against Osasuna and everything was much easier.
I must noticed that my team was better and better, Guardado, William and Fekir done a great job in the midfield, while Joaquin and Borja I. scored their assists.
Despite good foorm, the end of season we didn't play on way I wanted and that is a only reason why I didn't reached a 4th place and Champions league group stages. My rival was a slightly better than me.

https://i.ibb.co/3Rph7wf/schedule.png
https://i.ibb.co/FnZP2tX/schedule.png
https://i.ibb.co/Jmp3r4v/schedule.png

The final table :



Borja Inglesias scored 15 times, Joaquin and Guardado 13, while Fekir put 11 assits.
During the season Mandi, Guardado and Joaquin renewed their contracts, for one more season.

So this is my first post ever on this site. This is just a short comment to my first season in Betis. Please fell free to comment and tell anything if you doesn't like , Now, I am going to short holidays on Maldives, because i need to recover myself for a new season.

An incredible first season, good luck for the future with this!

Hello again to everyone. This horrible situation with Corona virus forced me to stay at home and stop my working. So I decided to continue my journey with Real Betis.
The summer was really busy for me. I returned from Maldives a little bit earlier to get ready for the new season. First of all I wanted to complete my roster as soon as possbile, but some operations didn't go well so I bought some player on last day of transfer market.

TRANSFERS :



Players in :
Despite the Joel's good form, I wanted to add another kepper to my dressing room. As I am playing on two fronts, I wanted some younger but experienced keper to help a Joel. So, i decided to buy Alessio Cragno from Cagliari. He showed some great saves so I am really satisfied with him.
Amiri and Palacios were bought to fresh a positions in midfield. Amiri could run for 3 days and I am really happy with him. Palacios need some time do adapt but I am sure that he will play some important role in this team.
Cucurella,Mayoral and young star Saka are on a loan transfers from their clubs. They are backup options and I am not sure to buy them on pernament deal.
Quintero is back up to Fekir, in case of some injury. I know that he is a tipical Latino-american player, with a great football knowledge, and some discipline problems.
My biggest signing is for sure Toby Alderwireld. He is signed on free transfer and already became a leader in squad. I am sure that he could play at least 2-3 seasons on high level.

Players out:


As you can see, my dear Chinese friends helped me to full my account. I couldn't say NO to these two offers. Also, Sanabria return from Genoa, but during the summer he didn't showed anything to keep him in squad. Juanmi didn't played in any important match last season so he was ruled out before the summer.

SUMMER
As i said, since I come back from the vacation, I started to work hard. In all matches I was a better team, include a match against Fiorentina. We showed a great play in front of our fans, but we were a quiet unlucky.



PRIMERA :

After a long breake, the new season could start. My first fixture was in front of our fans against Espanyol. Despite some errors we started the new campaign on a best possible way. I will not write about every match, but I must mention a draw against Barcelona, with a great play, and a really big win against R.Sociedad. Despite, the season didn't start well, I must say that I showed a great defensive play. I am not losing mathces but I still had some troubles in attack.

EUROPA LEAGUE



I don't need to write how am I excited to start an adventure in Euro competitions, and I couldn't wait to start. The draw in Nyon put me in group with Glasgow Rangers, Krasnodar and Kopenhagen. Despite, I was not introduced with these teams, I fully understand that we need to give maximum if we want to pass a group.
But after first game, I was conviced that will not be a such problem. I hammered Glasgow in Sevilla, without any chances to score.

After 13 games played in Primera, and 4 games in Europa league, these are current positions :

BATTLE FOR EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS



After 18 played games, I am on solid, but only solid, 7. place. I sliped on some ''easy'' games, but I can't be so disapointed with my team. In last few matches we showed that we can play with anyone in this league, and I can't wait to see my team at top.
If we turn a look on a squad, the top scorers are Borja and youngstar Saka, but I must mention also William (6 times a player of the match - only in the league) and Toby Alderwireld. They are leaders on their positions, but still have an power to help when it doesn't go easily for attackers.


THE ANDALUSIAN POWER IN EUROPA LEAGUE
As i said previously, I couldn't even imagine to pass the group on this way. Players understood my ideas and demostrated them on the best possible way. In the group phase, we gave a chance to some players from rotation, as Lainez, Mayoral and Quintero. All of them scored at least at once, and showed me that I can count on them in the next matches.

This was a just short overview from the last month or two. Now, I am going to put a Europa league on a side for some time and turned to Primera and Copa del Rey.




JANUARY OF TRUTH

The new year we are begining with a tough class against Bilbao. I must say that they are playing maybe over their expectations, but that don't mean they are not a strong and quality team. I am playing three matches in front of my fans, including Derby Sevilliano. After boring draw on Sanchez Pizjuan, I am ready to show them who is number on in Seville.



Two days ago I was in Nyon on Europa league last 32 draw. For the best 16 we need to pass a German Mainz. First match will be played in Germany.

ON THE RIGHT WAY



This is the only possible title that I can put for my January. The new year brought me a direct rival for EURO competitons this year. I was prepared on a tough match against very aggresive and disciplined team, but a VAR helped me with to penalties, later I saw it and I must say that both situations were clear, and refree made a right decisions. Also first time in my life, I was in role of coach in one of the greatest derbies in Europe. I knew that form and position on the table will not play a important role in this game. We worked hard in whole week, and guys hammered Sevilla, in all parts of game. Fekir didn't play in this game, for disciplinary reason, and I decided to put Quintero in fire. He answered to me with two goals, and I conviced me and fans that he deserves a place in this team.


''I am ready to replace Fekir. Thanks to boss because he has faith in me since first day. First two months was difficult because I am new, but now I am ready to show everyone why I am here''.

''TIME TO SAY GOODBYE''


Actually, I didn't want to sell anyone. I didn't want to take any action during the transfer market. But Chelsea was really boring with at least 5-6 offers for Fekir. I want to reject them with an offer of 80 mil. euros. I thought there is no possible way that one team will spend so big money, but Roman suprised me again and accept my offer without any negotiations. As I sad previously, Quintero showed me that he can be replacement for Fekir, but I still needed someone to help him. Last day of transfer market I loaned a Alena for Barclona until the end of season.
At the end, with Fekir transfer I reached a sum of more than 230 milion euros from selling players.


Alena's presenation on Benito Villamarin stadium.

LEAGUE TABLE



FEBRUARY FIXTURES

FEBRUARY


From Atletico to Atletico.......
In whole seasone I have an 5 losses (4 in League and 1 in CdR). From that 5 matches, 3 losses come out from Atletico. Despite two losses, I am still on great 5th position and am continuing a battle for EURO spots. But, if Atletico is my nightmare, I can say that we are Bilbao's nightmare. Interesting, Bilbao is still one position above me.


Real Betis's biggest nightmare - youngstar Joao Felix.

In Europa league, Betis didn't have bigger problems to win against Mainz. Interesting, Mainz won a German cup, and were relegated in 2. Bundesliga. We resolved any doubts in first match, with easily 2-4 win. I gave an chance to young Stergiou, which was bought in the summer, but have been in B team.
In 1/16, we are playing against big turkish team - Fenerbahce. First match will be played in Istanbul. I hope that we can play at least on draw. Quintero is back after 3 weeks in right moment. I need him more than ever.



LEAGUE TABLE



MARCH

MARCH - MAY

In last couple of weeks I didn't have time to write regularly so I am writing an short overview to my second season with betis. Depite my desire to qualify to Champions league, that isn't possibile. I made some mistakes at the end of season, mostly with some teams from bottom of the table. I must be ready to creaty a team that will be competitive on two or three fronts, and I really need a 23-24 players.

LAST FIXTURES



March really destroyed me, as same as Fenerbahce in two legs. In Istanbul I didn't even created any chances, I think that was a worst game in season. I second leg we created many chances but strikers didn't realized any of them. With two mistakes against Vigo and Girona I said goodbye to any calculations for Champions league. I am so sad because that mistakes came from two probably most experienced players - William Carvalho and Alderwireld.
So, at the end of season these are standings and final positions.



Real dominated all the season, from the first to last match. But in both matches against them I had my chances, so I think that we are ready to cut the gap between them and other teams above us. Bilbao played amazing season. From their 6 lost games, 2 came against me. I think that we didn't play well against smaller teams, specailly in matches at Benito Villamarin. This was one of my mistakes cause I didn't want to attack them from first minute.

PERSONAL PLAYER STANDINGS



Borja and Saka were first option in attack. First scored 17 goals in league, while Bukayo scored 10. I expected more from Lainez and Tello, but they didn't follow these great players. I must say that I am very happy with Amiri. I didn't know what to expect from him, but he played more than 40 games on very high level.

Finally, I must pay a tribute for two amazing players and captains that will not be a part of Betis in next season. Andres Guardado was one of my most important players in my first season. Great personality and hard working player. In first season he was a first choice MF alongside with William, and scored a 13 goals in Primera. With 34 years, his desire was to return to Mexico with his family so we didn't extend contract for another season.
While I was a kid, I read about some wonderkid from Betis. In the 2002, I saw him for the first time on World Cup, with great skills. I couldn't even imagine, that we will work together 18 years later. Last year with 39 on the back, whe scored 13 goals, and led his tim to European competitions. I must say that I am proud to have a player like him in squad. With 40 years on his back he decided to not continue his carrier, so I think that he will become a part of my staff. Thank you Joaquin.



Next season is starting on 5th of July. Stay tuned because we agreed some great signings during the season.

SEASON 2021/2022

TRANSFER MARKET AND PRE-SEASON

Last summer I went on a short holiday, but this year I was concentrated only on Betis. I stayed in Sevilla and take a long preparations for a new season. So here is all transfers during this market.

Players in :


Players out:


Nehuen and Almada were bought for the first team. I had some slight problems with Alderwireld beacuse I am not playing neither in Champions legaue or Europa league, so he wanted to leave. During first matches both player showed that they will be a very important players. From last season I sold only Cragno, for the sum that I bought him, so he cost me 0 euros. Radu is his replacment.

PRE-SEASON


I played a little more matches than I want but I am absolutely pleased with my team and performance. I hope that I will continute with these games in the Primera.

Nice work so far mate, good luck challenging Barca, Real and Ateltico, that is no easy task! But you are on the right track

good luck

Best of luck for the season ahead. I enjoyed catching up with this.

First of all, I want to thank to these guys with a best wishes. I just forgot to put an update on this thread, so I will do this now.

AUGUST

As i said, at the start season, when I started to create a programe of summer pre-season I didn't want to play against some extra teams, because I wanted to create more attacking plays and actions. So after a last pre-season match against Viktoria, i turned around to La Liga and Euro Cup II (This is a new UEFA competition, to be honest I still can't get a point for what this competition uses, but no matter.

I started with a fine and comfortable win against Levante, without any troubles. I played twice with Lech (I used a third team, to get eliminated) but reserves did a great job so I qualified for these interesting competition. In a La Liga I had a victory against Sociedad, but my defensive leader Bartra made a horribile mistake, so at the end, I only could shake a hand an took a point from San Sebastian.
At the end of August, first derby was played on my ground. Barcelona came with almost same team, old but experienced, so I tried to steal at least a point. But my boys were on fire from the frist minute, they showed a great game. I had an faith that we can win this, so Marc Cucurella (Ex-Barca) scored a great goal in 89. minute for the victory.
7 points from possible 9, with 2 hard games were excellent at the beginning of season.

SEPTEMBER

So with a good form and excellent atmosphere in the team I turned around to next challenges. I played 4 matches in La liga and 2 in Euro Cup II. La Coruna was the last team in the league when I came to play with them. The grab a point, and as I said on the press-conference, team played horrible match, with number of mistakes and errors. Sevilliano is always a tough match, so I just didn't want to lose on the away side. I grab a point and few days later ruined a Bilbao on the Villamarin. That was one of my best games since I am a coach of Betis.

I need to say, that I am a slightly sad about the game against Los Blancos, because I had a more than a play, but obviously experience and number games of this type played were enough to Madrid victory.
As I said, I didn't want to play this competition, so I decided to put a some players from B team and reserves to play this two matches. But the suprised me with a two great performances against Hearts and APOEL. I grab 6 points from two first matches so I could easily play another matches in this competition.

So this is the short report about my first two months in new season. I must write about an huge mistake with NON-EU players. I had 5 of them in dressing room, so I needed to send a young Martinez on a loan, while Quintero was loaned to Kobenhavn. This was a really weird situation, beacuse I put him on a transfer list for 18 milions (he is valued on 20), Shakhtar send an offer 16.5 milions but board reject an offer without asking me. But he is playing regularly so I hope that I will be able to sell him at the end of season.

OCTOBER

After a very good start in my first two months of new season, I turned to October and some ''easier'' games, on the paper. I knew that is important to win as much is possible to keep a battle for first 4 places. I won 4 games from possible 5 so I must be happy with results. Borja continued to score an important goals, just as Lainez and Saka, while Palacios, Almada and Gomez showed a great performances in midfield.


NOVEMBER

Again, I continued with a solid games and wins. But as you can see, my dark horse, my nightmare in this save is team called Atletico Madrid. I am still shocked and suprised that I loose every of 6 matches played against them. I don't know anymore what to do and how to prepare a match. Everything is same, if I decide to attack them, or played more cautious. In Euro Cup II, I grabed another 6 points from two matches so We qualified for the next round.


The young players are really satisfied with me and I am with them. They are showing a great performances from game to game. But, I have a slight problems with a some ''senators'' in the dressing room. Alderwireld wants to leave, he is valued od 16.5m euros and I am really going to decide what to do, because he is a third choice defender and I bought a young Betella from Atalanta. He is arriving at the end of season, and probably he will take his place in the team. Another problem is William Carvalho, yes him. Every time when he plays he is quite good, despite some errors. But I am not playing anymore with classic DMF like in my first season, and I don't know what to do, he is too old to train a new poistion, and he is losing so much on his phyisical attributes. Tottenham is interested in player, so I will decide during the transfer market what to do. He is 29, and valued on 44 mil. euros. I think that I can sell him without any problems for 55+ milions.

DECEMBER & JANUARY

I played a 4 matches in a row with teams that are at the bottom of table. I knew that will be tough to take 12 points, and I was right. Vallecano grab a point but I wasn't disappointed. I finished an EURO CUP group stage with an huge victory against Hearts, so I take all 18 possible points.

In January I stepped to Copa del Rey with a vicotry against Eibar, but I next round I suffered an lose against Bilbao. I know that we can't play on all 3 fronts so I don't want to say anything against my boys.
During the winter market I sold Mandi to China, so I am searching for his replacement. I bought two young players, Barry from Barcelona and Gurbuz from Ankaragucu. The first one will be a back up for Iglesias, even he is scouted to be a better than him, while Gurbuz will spent first season in B team.
I noticed that I didn't put my position in the league so I will put a leage table and table of Euro Cup II.

You seem to have your Betis side playing terrific football, both domestically and in Europe. Good work mate