"It should not be forgotten that we were facing Chelsea"

Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini said on Wednesday after losing 1-4 to Chelsea in the final of the Conference League in Wroclaw (Poland), that he believes that “this season has been a step forward and not backward”.

"This year has been important. We have qualified for Europe again and reached a final. Every experience is useful and now we have to think about restructuring the squad, the more powerful it is, the more opportunities there will be to be in Europe and not fall behind in La Liga”, said the South American coach in the press room of the Wroclaw Municipal Stadium.

On the match, he commented that they played “a great first half, with opportunities to double the lead and Chelsea didn't create chances”.

“Then came the second half influenced by injuries to Ricardo Rodriguez and Abde, who suffered a sprained ankle, and on that left side they have talented players and found the spaces,” he argued.

Pellegrini, who admitted that what hurts them most about this defeat “is not giving the fans a title”, insisted that “reaching the final has merit” and that it was with this squad that they reached the last match of the tournament, despite admitting that “the dressing room is saddened for not having given the fans a joy”.

“We mustn't forget that we were up against Chelsea. I am disappointed that we overcame them in the first half but then in the second half... we have already commented on it,” concluded the Chilean coach.