Pepe Mel spoke before the media after the match that Real Betis Balompié played at Benito Villamarín Stadium against Villarreal CF (1-1). The head coach of Real Betis showed his satisfaction for the performance of the team and outlined the effort made by the players when they were trailing in the score. Even if Betis tied the match in last moments, Mel stated that the score was ‘unfair’ due to the superiority showed by the team in this first match of the season.

Match analysis: “I’m not happy, the score is not fair. We have been the better team, stronger and deserved to win. We can’t change the score now, but Betis should have won. Villarreal had just one chance in the first half and another in the second due a mistake we made and that’s it.”

Do you need to strengthen your defense?: “If Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona need to do it so, obviously we need it, too. But it’s the first match of the season. Today I’ve seen a team that wanted to win, that pressed up high and went for the victory, we weren’t content with a draw. We have faced a big team, playing in Europe and with an economic potential much higher than ours. But on the pitch my team was better.”

Marcelino García Toral has complained about the referee: “Probably he didn’t say anything about the penalty. Each one sees it from a different scope. Jorge Molina was clearly fouled inside the box in the first half. At half time I told the referee that the goal that Villarreal CF was not offside. We should tell him when they do right, not only when they do wrong. There are 40,000 people for that.”

Your players were arguing with the referee at the end of the first half: “There’s nothing you can do when the ref has made a decision. Arguing with him is a silly thing, it only leads to get booked. I took them to the dressing room. The behaviour of our technical staff has been superb.”

Do you expect many new players before the closing of the transfer window?: “Not many. We can bring two players more. It’s important to have patience with the new players, specially the ones coming from other countries. I’ve been abroad as a player and as a manager, and I know how it feels to start in a different country. It happens in every team, at the ones who usually play are the same of the previous year. They need an adaptation process. I’m happy because there were 9 players who were in second division last year and they played very well against a team like Villarreal CF, so let’s take it easy.”

Dani Ceballos: “He will play when I consider it so. Today, I decide for him not to be in the starting eleven, there were other teammates who were more prepared. Then I thought that he could help us and was a good moment for him to play. There’s no need to overthink it. I do what I think it’s better for Betis. When I believe Dani is going to help us, he’ll be on the pitch.”

What’s going to happen with his future?: “We have just played. There are many things more important than Dani Ceballos right now. I don’t know; I’m neither his father nor his agent. The chairman of Real Betis doesn’t know what’s going to happen, so neither do I. He’s training with me right now. When it’s time for him to play, he’ll play. If he’s in the same way he was this week he won’t play. He did well when he came on today and showed that he can and he wants. If he is like he was today, he’s going to play.”

Aspects to improve: “It’s the first match, is normal. I’ve watched all the matches of the weekend. I’ve seen few goals and reluctant teams. We have had done good things, we had many chances. But of course we need to improve certain things. We must make some adjustments for the next match. But I’m happy with the team’s attitude. They didn’t give up, the team was strong throughout the 90 minutes and we didn’t let Villarreal play. I’ve got to be happy.”

Joaquín: “I already said that I have talked with him. The conversation we had was necessary. Joaquín wants to come and Betis wants Joaquín to come, but we are talking about a player that is in a team in another league. Real Betis has the highest of respects for ACF Fiorentina, there is not much we can do. If Joaquín terminates his contract with ACF Fiorentina he knows he’ll be welcome here.”

Is there a plan B if Dani Ceballos leaves?: “We have been talking about his issue for a long time, so there’s no point to talk about this again unless something happens. Is as it was when I arrived in January. If a team wants him they just need to pay the release clause. Let’s hope nobody does it on the 30^th of August because then there’s no time to react. I’m worried about the things that I can actually improve: make the defense play better and create more goal chances, not only coming from the same guy. But I don’t worry about the things that I can’t control.”

Are you disappointed with Ceballos’ attitude?: “Not at all, he’s young and right now he’s going through a lot. It’s is normal that he’s a bit lost, he’s just 19 years old. I care that Betis wins, that’s the only thing that matters. To get that, I’ll use the players that I think are better. He wasn’t like that this week. If he continues in the same way next way, maybe he won’t even travel to Santiago Bernabéu. They’ll have to come from Madrid to watch him.”