Manuel Pellegrini will not be on the Betis bench for the first friendly of pre-season due to personal reasons. Rubén Cousillas, his assistant coach, will be in charge of leading the team against the German Sportfreunde Lotte.
The Real Betis Balompié faces its first summer preparation match with the unexpected absence of its coach. Manuel Pellegrini has had to leave the training camp the team is holding in Marienfeld (Germany) for personal reasons, as confirmed by the club. Rubén Cousillas, his trusted assistant, will take his place on the bench during the match against Sportfreunde Lotte, a team from the German fourth division.
An absence that adds to Isco's
The news of Pellegrini's departure is not the only significant absence the Betis expedition has suffered in Germany. The attacking midfielder Isco Alarcón has also returned to Spain for personal reasons, meaning he will not be available for the summer debut. Both absences have been communicated by the club as personal matters, without further details provided.
Despite these setbacks, the rest of the squad has been able to complete the planned training sessions without any new physical incidents. The coaching staff, now led by Cousillas, has worked normally to prepare for the clash against the Germans, which will serve as the first contact after the initial days of work in the Marienfeld camp.
Debut of new signings and the youth academy
The match will have an extra incentive for Betis fans: it will be the first opportunity to see Fran García and Facundo Bernal in the verdiblanco shirt, two of the summer signings that have generated the most excitement. Both players have completed training and are expected to get minutes in the friendly.
Additionally, the match will serve as a showcase for the youth players who have travelled to Germany. Several players from the reserve and youth teams will have the chance to prove their worth to Cousillas and the rest of the coaching staff, in a context where rotations are guaranteed. For many, this pre-season is a golden opportunity to secure a place in the first team’s plans.
Antony, sidelined from the group
Another notable name in the training camp is Antony. The Brazilian winger, who joined the group later, has been following an individual training plan to complete his fitness. It seems he will not participate in the match against Sportfreunde Lotte, as the coaching staff's goal is for him to reach his best physical condition without taking risks at the start of pre-season.
The idea is for Antony to gradually integrate with the group over the coming days, ahead of the next friendly commitments that Betis has scheduled on their German tour. Caution is paramount with a player who is expected to be a key attacking asset.
A debut with a testing flavour for Cousillas
For Rubén Cousillas, the match against Sportfreunde Lotte represents an unexpected but not new challenge. The Argentine, who has been Pellegrini's assistant coach for much of his career, has had to take the reins on occasion when the Chilean has been absent. His knowledge of the group and the 'Engineer’s' working methods ensures continuity on the bench.
Betis will play the match at the stadium of the German team, aiming to build competitive rhythm. For Betis fans, this will be the first opportunity to see their team in action this season, albeit through the club's broadcast. The uncertainty of how the team will respond without their main coach and without Isco adds an element of interest to a match that, under other circumstances, would be merely a formality.
The next commitment for Betis in pre-season is scheduled for a few days from now, with the hope that Pellegrini and Isco will rejoin the group. Until then, Cousillas and his team will have the responsibility of starting the summer preparation on the right foot.
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