In search of redemption

Real Betis are in debt to their fans. The Benito Villamarín faithful are looking to get their smile back with the help of their team, one of the Spanish football’s household names, who have had to rebuild this season in the Liga Adelante, one of the closest competitions in the world where the difference can be made in the blink of an eye.

In order to lead the side from Heliópolis in this new phase, the club has called in Julio Velázquez, a young coach whose experience belies his years; he will be managing in his 100th Liga Adelante match this season. His youth, courage, dynamism and freshness have given a new lease of life to a side whose objective this season is automatic promotion to the Liga BBVA.

"We have to stay very calm because the important thing is that at the end of the road, in June, we achieve our objective", stated Velázquez in an interview with LFP.es about his new venture in the dugouts of Spain. The words are a sign of his wisdom and knowledge, both of which are essential to success.

Experience, their strongest asset

Betis is a well-versed team that has played in European competition and is familiar with the demands of this season. The core of last season’s team is practically intact, with Adán in goal, Jordi Figueras in the rear-guard, Javier Matilla, N’Diaye or Xavi Torres in the middle and a meteoric Rubén Castro who is back and stronger than ever, finding the net every time he steps out onto the pitch.

The keeper from the capital has found consistency at Betis, where he brings peace of mind and security to the side, something that has earned him the respect of the squad in his second season with the Andalusian outfit. Thanks to his hard work and that of the defence, Betis have conceded few goals and are flirting with the top end of the table, where all the fans would love to see them.

Rubén, synonymous with goals

Any striker worth his salt has a razor-sharp goal-scoring instinct and can find the net from seemingly impossible situations. These are exactly the defining characteristics of Rubén Castro, the Verdiblancos’ Canary Island striker who has started the season in fine form with a return to his pomp. He has never abandoned ship and this year he seems hungrier for glory than ever.

His teammates are aware of the quality of the ex-Las Palmas player and Damien Perquis, their Polish centre-back revealed: "In front of goal I’ve never seen anyone better in my career", in reference to his teammate’s attacking qualities. His seven goals in the first seven games are an unmistakable sign of the player’s hunger for success.

The season is only just getting started and there is a still a very long road ahead. Both the coaching staff and the players know that the most important thing is to achieve their goal after 42 matches, and to do so they will have to prove that they are a solid, consistent, intense team who are capable of overcoming anything in their path. Betis are in search of redemption and a return to the elite and Julio Velázquez has his mind set on it.