A Green And White Revolution In Andalucia
Never in a million years would Béticos expect that their team would be the cause of admiration right across the footballing world, but under the guidance of Quique Setien the Andalucians draw admiration from all corners of the globe.
Rewriting the script has become something of the norm for Real Betis, and as they entered the year with another new coach - their 9th since December 2013 - the fans once again feared the worst for Los Verdiblancos. Since their return to the top flight after a short stint away, Seville's working class club have never finished in the top half and were seemingly slipping into the old habit of starting a fresh at the drop of a hat.
However, this season has started with a bang for all concerned as newly installed manager Quique Setien continues to build on an impressive season with UD Las Palmas last year by propelling Betis into the top half. Setien is arguably one of the emerging managers of La Liga, and is known for his expansive possession based football that took the side from the Canary Islands to the verge of Europe.
Betis are simply stunning at times, as their wonderful structured 4-3-3 formation prods and probes the ball around the pitch, searching for openings. It's methodical, as if the players are solving a mathematical problem in from of them with the end result coming in the form of a goal. Betis work the thirds of the pitch like a ballroom dancer sweeping the ball from one flank to the other majestically and with purpose. Their creator-in-chief, Andres Guardado, certainly knows how to move and his influence on the midfield has been utterly impressive, as his scuttling legs and metronomic rhythm gives oxygen to the midfield.
Unlike cross-city rivals Sevilla, Betis had struggled in the transfer market, and whilst their rivals bathed in success Los Verdiblancos toiled in the mire. Despite the catastrophic loss of Dani Cellabos, whose storming U21 tournament in Poland had prompted Setien to try and build a team around him, Betis had an unnervingly fruitful window. The arrivals hall welcomed Javi Garcia, Antonio Sanabria, Victor Camarasa, forgotten Barcelona winger Cristian Tello and Montpellier ace Riyad Boudebouz. Whilst also strengthening their back-line with the arrival of Jordi Amat and Antonio Barragan. Significantly, the biggest signing has come at board level with the return of hugely popular Lorenzo Serra Ferrer who has already played a part in building one of the most exciting squads in Spain.
Setien's men have played a part in one of the most astounding games in La Liga as their contest with the equally as exciting Valencia ended 3-6, including 9 different scorers, with 6 of those goals coming in the final 12 minutes. However, the most impressive result comes away from the newly renovated Estadio Benito Villmarin, as Los Verdiblancos humbled European and Spanish Champions Real Madrid, with a well deserved 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Betis' 90th minute goal was one to savour as the away team took the initiative; the ball was sent wide, inside, wide again, spread to other side of the pitch drawing Madrid out of their 'midfield three' before Tello burst past Modric and Ramos to find Barragan in space, his wonderfully weighted chip was met by the forehead of Sanabria to thump past Keylor Navas into the back of the net. This is much the same team who were humbled 6-2 by Real last season.
Whilst Napoli and Barcelona have gained plaudits for their possession based football, Betis can certainly claim to the younger brother of the heavyweights. Their 4-3-3 stretches and retracts with measured precision, their passing clearly well-drilled often forming an 'M' as they draw their opponent on to them and aim to play in behind. They have a hunger to make their opponents sweat, to move them around like chess pieces and to exploit their gaps with ruthlessness. Guardado, Tello and veteran winger Joaquin provide the spark for Antonio Sanabria, bought from Roma this summer, who has notched 7 goals in 10 already this season. The Paraguayan is in red-hot form and looks destined for bigger things. Betis are a clever, well-trained team that have adapted to the pressures put on them by Setien - whose stock is rising as quickly as his club - but they tend to lack the instinct in the final third to unpick a team when they sit back.
Those frustrations, however, will be at the back of the mind for the 45,000 season ticket holders who have pledged allegiance this season, and will have been used to seeing the famous green and white stripes toil to victory in the past. This season Betis have been revolutionised into one of the most exciting examples of a thoroughly well coached team a spectator will see on the pitch. And yes, the revolution will be televised most weekends*.
*All Real Betis games are shown on Sky via the Red Button for the 2017-18 season.
Rewriting the script has become something of the norm for Real Betis, and as they entered the year with another new coach - their 9th since December 2013 - the fans once again feared the worst for Los Verdiblancos. Since their return to the top flight after a short stint away, Seville's working class club have never finished in the top half and were seemingly slipping into the old habit of starting a fresh at the drop of a hat.
However, this season has started with a bang for all concerned as newly installed manager Quique Setien continues to build on an impressive season with UD Las Palmas last year by propelling Betis into the top half. Setien is arguably one of the emerging managers of La Liga, and is known for his expansive possession based football that took the side from the Canary Islands to the verge of Europe.
Betis are simply stunning at times, as their wonderful structured 4-3-3 formation prods and probes the ball around the pitch, searching for openings. It's methodical, as if the players are solving a mathematical problem in from of them with the end result coming in the form of a goal. Betis work the thirds of the pitch like a ballroom dancer sweeping the ball from one flank to the other majestically and with purpose. Their creator-in-chief, Andres Guardado, certainly knows how to move and his influence on the midfield has been utterly impressive, as his scuttling legs and metronomic rhythm gives oxygen to the midfield.
Unlike cross-city rivals Sevilla, Betis had struggled in the transfer market, and whilst their rivals bathed in success Los Verdiblancos toiled in the mire. Despite the catastrophic loss of Dani Cellabos, whose storming U21 tournament in Poland had prompted Setien to try and build a team around him, Betis had an unnervingly fruitful window. The arrivals hall welcomed Javi Garcia, Antonio Sanabria, Victor Camarasa, forgotten Barcelona winger Cristian Tello and Montpellier ace Riyad Boudebouz. Whilst also strengthening their back-line with the arrival of Jordi Amat and Antonio Barragan. Significantly, the biggest signing has come at board level with the return of hugely popular Lorenzo Serra Ferrer who has already played a part in building one of the most exciting squads in Spain.
Setien's men have played a part in one of the most astounding games in La Liga as their contest with the equally as exciting Valencia ended 3-6, including 9 different scorers, with 6 of those goals coming in the final 12 minutes. However, the most impressive result comes away from the newly renovated Estadio Benito Villmarin, as Los Verdiblancos humbled European and Spanish Champions Real Madrid, with a well deserved 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Betis' 90th minute goal was one to savour as the away team took the initiative; the ball was sent wide, inside, wide again, spread to other side of the pitch drawing Madrid out of their 'midfield three' before Tello burst past Modric and Ramos to find Barragan in space, his wonderfully weighted chip was met by the forehead of Sanabria to thump past Keylor Navas into the back of the net. This is much the same team who were humbled 6-2 by Real last season.
Whilst Napoli and Barcelona have gained plaudits for their possession based football, Betis can certainly claim to the younger brother of the heavyweights. Their 4-3-3 stretches and retracts with measured precision, their passing clearly well-drilled often forming an 'M' as they draw their opponent on to them and aim to play in behind. They have a hunger to make their opponents sweat, to move them around like chess pieces and to exploit their gaps with ruthlessness. Guardado, Tello and veteran winger Joaquin provide the spark for Antonio Sanabria, bought from Roma this summer, who has notched 7 goals in 10 already this season. The Paraguayan is in red-hot form and looks destined for bigger things. Betis are a clever, well-trained team that have adapted to the pressures put on them by Setien - whose stock is rising as quickly as his club - but they tend to lack the instinct in the final third to unpick a team when they sit back.
Those frustrations, however, will be at the back of the mind for the 45,000 season ticket holders who have pledged allegiance this season, and will have been used to seeing the famous green and white stripes toil to victory in the past. This season Betis have been revolutionised into one of the most exciting examples of a thoroughly well coached team a spectator will see on the pitch. And yes, the revolution will be televised most weekends*.
*All Real Betis games are shown on Sky via the Red Button for the 2017-18 season.
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