Betis were not at all happy with the refereeing in the game against Barcelona. That is what Manuel Pellegrini said in the press conference post-game. He was especially upset with VAR.
"The referee is on the field, not the VAR. This time he makes the referee give a penalty which he hadn't seen. If the on field official gives a penalty and sends Mandi off, I've got no issue, but I have when it's the VAR who does. I said the same against Real Madrid. VAR sent Emerson off and gave the penalty against Bartra. It's a technology which makes things fairer, but you can't change 25 incidents," he said.
The Betis coach said that "the team are on the right track" despite losing 5-2 against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
"At 2-1, the match was very even, but the penalty and Mandi's red card have killed us off. We have to improve many things, but we have the spirit and personality to win the matches," he added post game.
Pellegrini played down the importance of the five goals conceded because "we conceded the goals while we were trying to level with 10 men. I don't think the scoreline reflects the difference there has been between the teams.
The boss admitted that Betis must "keep on working to concede less goals" and "improving to be in the top half of the table."