Pellegrini: We didn't win because of the referee, but because we seized our chance

Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini did not hide his joy after the victory over Real Madrid. The "Green and Whites" secured a 1-0 win at "La Cartuja," with new signing Troy Parrott scoring the decisive goal.

"It's not true that we played for a draw. I believe the team came out to win from the first minute. We tried to attack the opponent's goal against a rival like Real Madrid, which, of course, is difficult. Overall, in the first half, both teams had their moments. In the second half, we even had more possession and played more often in their half. Ultimately, we scored a goal and took all three points against a big opponent in a very competitive match. If it had ended in a draw, that would also have been a fair result. In football, it often happens: we capitalized on the chance we had, and they didn't," Pellegrini said, addressing José Mourinho's comment that the Sevillians played for a draw.

"Football gives you 24 hours. 24 hours to enjoy a victory, and 24 hours to suffer after a loss. In matches, there are many specific moments, as happened against Levante, which cause things to unfold in a certain way. You have to know how to understand them, analyze them, and be self-critical, both in victory and defeat. After 24 hours, you have to be convinced of what you're doing to try and win the next game, which is what we did," the Chilean specialist continued.

"I'm very happy for Troy Parrott. Against Levante, he had a chance to change the score but missed it. Today, he didn't just have luck, but the instinct to score that goal after Nelson Deosa's header, for whom I'm also very happy. When you start a new chapter with a new team, in a different country, and you score a goal that beats Real Madrid, that will give you a lot of confidence," Pellegrini emphasized.

"Diego Llorente took a hit that broke his nose. We'll see exactly what the situation is and how long it will take for him to return to the field," commented the Betis coach.

"I don't think we played roughly. I believe both teams were fighting for the ball. I don't think the referee had a significant influence. Whether he showed one more or one less yellow card, I don't think those are decisive factors for the outcome of the match. We didn't win because of the referee, but because we converted one of our chances, while they failed to capitalize on theirs, either because they ran into Alvaro Valles, or because they missed the penalty they had," Manuel Pellegrini added.