Promotion is now a European final: a Betis side makes history in Wroclaw

A decade has passed, but it could have been two. Or three. Ten years ago, Betis celebrated its long-awaited return to the First Division , a category it has not left since. In that time, the club has gone from playing in the Second Division to appearing in two finals in three years. Tonight, it will play its first European Championship title in its history against Chelsea (9:00 PM), the opponent who will be fighting for the Conference League . These achievements have come under the baton of Manuel Pellegrini , and with Ángel Haro and José Miguel López Catalán in the box.

Haro and Catalán, president and vice president respectively, have transformed Betis into a versatile team that now stands alongside the league's greats. Their arrival on the board came at the end of 2015, and their growth has seemed unstoppable since then . Promotions have resulted in finals, highlighting how the club's objectives have shifted.

The first step in the project was the signing of Quique Setién , who helped Betis qualify for Europe, but left a year later due to disagreements with the fans. Rubi made a symbolic move, and Pellegrini was brought in , with whom the club has abandoned its notorious "manquepierda" (man-and-lost) streak. He has become the most successful manager in its history and is on the list of those who have won a title as a Betis player.

The Copa del Rey was the first step toward consolidating the project , now supported by another final and a fifth consecutive qualification for European competitions. This season, there were doubts surrounding Pellegrini due to the team's poor first half of the season. But the return of Isco , combined with the recovery of other injured players and the signing of Antony , made Betis a formidable force from February onward.

"Overmotivation"

The goal is to bring the Conference back home, even though they'll face Enzo Maresca's Chelsea . "We're convinced we can win. I've said in the locker room that belief is the first step to victory. We've shown we can beat anyone . We're eager for the game to start and want to give the fans something to cheer about," Isco explained beforehand.

Pellegrini appealed for emotional control in the press conference . "What we have to do is be the same team we've always been. We have to manage the emotional aspect well. If we play as equals, we can win ; we don't have to make mistakes due to over-motivation."

A final without a favorite

Chelsea's financial might makes the English team the favorites . Or not. "The easy thing to say is that Chelsea is the favorite, because, as Isco said, they have more money. But I don't agree. I think there are no favorites in a final. This isn't David versus Goliath," concluded the Betis manager.

Now is the time for the project that began a decade ago to climb a new rung on the ladder. A European title would place Betis in a new league. However, first, they must bring the title back. Because the Verdiblancos will never give up on losing , but the team wants to get used to winning.