At the end of the match against FC Barcelona B, ending in a triumph for Real Betis (1-0), Julio Velázquez appeared before the media in the press room at the Benito Villamarín Stadium. The Betis coach, happy with the result obtained, appreciated the effort put in by his players to win such a complicated match; he also explained the reasons for his being sent off in the closing minutes of the first half.

Opinion of the match: “We had seven or eight scoring opportunities. We totally deserved the victory, I think we could have won by a wider margin. We didn't finish off the match, we created enough opportunities but we lacked the finishing”.

Why were you sent off?: “The linesman had indicated a foul in our favour close to our opponents' area. The referee let play continue and there was a rapid transition towards our goal. Their second coach had protested and I complained to the linesman about the fact that they had not penalised the foul and he sent me off. The referee came with the intention of booking me but the fourth referee told him to send me off”.

Did you hear any of the chants about you?: “As I was sent off I quickly went downstairs and I didn't hear anything. I take it with the greatest of respect for the fans. Real Betis is the most important thing, not Julio Velázquez. The fans supported the team unconditionally, and in difficult moments in which we should have suffered with maturity, they were still with the team. The team noticed and appreciated that. The fans deserve top marks. Never mind the coach, the main thing is the team and the Club”.

How are Álex Martínez and Molinero?: “We have to see how Álex comes along. It was his right leg. I've been told that he had pain at the back but that they do not think it is serious. Molinero will be fine for the next training session. He was a little dazed by the collision, but there shouldn't be a problem”.

From the outside it seemed that you were nervous on the bench. Was it as a result of the pressure?: “From the outside you can analyse a situation any way you want. Since I became the manager, it was the calmest I have been in the technical area except for a few odd occasions. When it comes the developing and leading the match that is when I am more deliberate in my actions. I try to take those situations with the greatest of normality”.

What are your thoughts on the referee's performance?: “Eusebio was obviously annoyed that the referee initially gave a penalty and then changed his mind. It wasn't a penalty. Eusebio is a great guy. Some days the referees give and others they take away. You have to respect the referee, they have a terribly tough job to do”.

You said some weeks ago that the best match minutes for you were in the match against CD Lugo in the King's Cup and the preseason friendly against ACF Fiorentina. What do you think about today's performance?: “It all depends on the message you want to give, how you say the things you say and the things that surround the message. I think the team were at their best the other day in the first half against CA Osasuna. Other than that there have been phases that were downright good, such as the match against RC Recreativo de Huelva. The preseason is not an objective factor, it is decontextualised. The team is still improving in terms of their desire to go all out in the matches they play. We are saying that there has been many opportunities and we are connecting better. Today we were up against a team that thrives on possession and there were stages in the match in which we stole possession in the initial zones. We created dangerous situations as a result of these connections. I am still feeling positive and looking to the future with all the optimism in the world”.

When will we see the team playing well throughout the match?: “Each match is a different story. Clearly we have not managed to get that consistency for the whole 90 minutes. The main thing is the get results by playing well and the players having a good time. And we are doing just that and advancing step by step. We are trying to be a balanced as possible both in offence and defence. Obviously there are better days and worse days, but their game will continue improving as and when manage to adpt the players conduct so they can enjoy themselves more. We are going in the right direction”.