“How cool,” proclaimed the Real Betis speaker twenty minutes before the start of the match in La Cartuja, with 35 degrees of temperature and humidity coming from the Guadalquivir turning the stadium into a real cauldron. "I haven't seen the plays in detail, the controversies. I can't comment," said Jose Mourinho. "The team played a great game. Sometimes they lose and we don't know why. We were very dominant, with the imperial centre-backs and a lot of offensive play and many chances. If it ended in a draw, we would be frustrated. Espí has done his job very well, he has great potential. He will go even further because he is humble and wants to work. I am very happy with him," he added.
"It's difficult to change Ada, she was playing very well. The Betis players are smarter than the Madrid players, there were clear yellows for the Betis players, but our players get up faster. They don't get up and then they have a fantastic fan. I don't understand how Arda had a yellow card," he continued when asked about the refereeing.
"The team has always been good. Betis has had some counterattacks, but the game has been ours. We have created a lot, many shots, and we have missed three or four clear ones. Their goalkeeper has been impressive. The changes have been due to the cards and to go into attack against a low block. A reference player and Kylian on the wing," he added.
"A Betis player looked like he was dead, so I didn't see the plays. I saw frustrated people on the bench, but I didn't see them, really. The referee let the game play, I like that. Maybe I didn't like the criteria of the yellow players. But we lost and it wasn't because of a yellow card," the Portuguese admitted. “Betis played to tie and ended up winning,” he indicated. “I am happy with all my players and when one kicks a penalty, we all do it together,” he reflected in reference to the penalty missed by Mbappé.
"During the week I knew that he had thrown them open. I tried to hold on as much as possible. That is the side I had chosen. Before, I told him that what luck, that a penalty in the last minute that what luck, to try to distract him," said Álvaro Valles, the Betis goalkeeper, who was the best player of the Andalusian team and who supported the team with his saves. "In the end there were some very exciting, tense minutes. We know the quality of Madrid up front and they were accumulating people in the area. We were able to get the victory ahead, a clean sheet and there is still a lot to do," added the Andalusian goalkeeper.
"Madrid played a great game, but so did we. The VAR is there to review these plays and we won. There have been five visits without Madrid winning here," said Bartra. “I saw his documentary and it is clear that Mourinho likes to divert attention,” when asked about Mourinho's statements regarding the work of the Betis players and the naivety of the Madridistas.
"The team transmitted the same thing as in these seven years. 24 hours to enjoy a victory and another 24 to suffer a defeat. You have to know how to understand mistakes, make self-criticism and, after 24 hours, be convinced of winning the next game, which is what we did," said Manuel Pellegrini, the Betis coach. “You don't have to get bigger with victories or become harakiri with defeats, but it is difficult for this Betis to have two setbacks in a row,” clarified the Chilean coach.
"It was a special game for me. After the setback against Levante, this victory is the best way to continue growing," said Fran García, Betis' left-back, with a past in Madrid.
