Silence and reflection on Betis' return from the final: lessons for the future

Silence reigned on the return flight that transported Real Betis from Wroclaw to Seville after their crushing defeat in the Conference League final to Chelsea. Serious faces mingled with fatigue throughout the early hours, given that the plane departed just after 2:00 a.m. and arrived in Seville around 6:00 a.m. this Thursday. The disappointment of the defeat contrasted with the excitement of the first leg, the loud cheers from the fans in the streets before the match, and the fantastic atmosphere of the final. But the defeat was deeply felt by the Betis team and led to a reflection that also kept many on edge throughout the night on the Airbus A-330.

The Betis expedition arrived at Wroclaw Airport directly to board via the VIP area. The airport was packed with Betis fans waiting to depart during the early hours of the morning. There were ten consecutive flights to Seville. On the Betis plane, there were individual talks in the first-class area, attended by players and executives. Before departure, Fajardo, Alarcón, and Adrián took a break to analyze what had happened. Other players were with their families, welcoming and encouraging. The calm faces left no room for doubt: the defeat caps a season filled with hope but whose finale has been bitter: they fell short of reaching the Champions League and lost in the final to Chelsea.

"You learn from everything," the coaching staff said. The club faced its first continental final and has the resources to grow. Two years ago, upon returning from Manchester after losing to United, also 4-1, the conclusion was that Betis still lacked the stature to reach certain competitive stages. That was the Europa League round of 16; this was a Conference final.

Sleep deflated several players, especially those who hadn't played a single minute. Those who did struggled with the break. The missed opportunity was on everyone's mind. It was time to make history. Also disappointing was the fans who had given their all to the team, whom all the key players spoke about in their appearances, from Pellegrini to Isco, Bartra, and Adrián, all captains.

Abde and Ricardo were struggling with injuries that forced them to be substituted during the match. Pellegrini was the one with the most family members on the expedition and displayed a very serious demeanor. Already in the press conference, he began demanding that the squad be improved in the summer to take on new challenges.

Betis wants the pain of defeat to serve as inspiration for future victories. The trip also highlighted how unwelcome Sevilla's tweet congratulating Chelsea manager Maresca had been, and Haro's response was praised. In any case, it's an anecdote. Betis is already looking to bigger goals. The cycle indicates that their ambition doesn't stop there.