Ange Postecoglou and Nottingham Forest are gearing up to face Manuel Pellegrini and Real Betis on Wednesday, with the Betis boss eyeing an opportunity to exploit what he perceives as a complication in the Forest camp.
Despite being viewed as the toughest fixture on paper, Forest are considered slight favorites to secure an away victory against Betis in Seville.
Postecoglou’s experience in UEFA competitions is expected to be beneficial, but the question remains whether the Reds’ squad can match up against their seasoned opponents, who made it to the Conference League final in the previous season.
Pellegrini, known for his stability at Betis with five consecutive seasons of European football, has pinpointed what he believes to be an exploitable issue within the Forest setup.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by a new coach like Postecoglou swiftly instilling his ideas amidst a congested fixture schedule, Pellegrini sees it as an opportune moment to face Forest.
In his statement to the press, Pellegrini emphasized the need for intensity and focus regardless of the opponent’s circumstances, highlighting that Betis must prove their capabilities this season.
While expressing admiration for Forest’s talent pool and referring to their achievements from the previous season, Pellegrini also acknowledged the challenges posed by the Reds as a formidable rival.
Despite Betis facing setbacks such as the injury to Diego Llorente and the absence of Isco, Pellegrini holds a high regard for Forest’s transfer activity and acknowledges the strength of the squad they have assembled.
Reflecting on Forest’s performance last season and their involvement in European competitions, Pellegrini views them as a resilient and challenging adversary, attributing these qualities to their success and the experience of their manager.
