The Real Betis manager Pepe Mel, held a press conference this afternoon in the press room at the Benito Villamarín Stadium to analyse next Sunday's match against the team from Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, vital in the struggle to escape the relegation zone. Furthermore, Mel spoke about the sensations afforded by yesterday's UEFA Europa League match against Olympique Lyonnais, highlighting the need to get positive results to boost the morale of the team after a bad run the last few weeks in the League.

Do you know who is unavailable for the match?: “Today's training session is the most important one for us to see which players are able to play. It is an unusual Friday because we are training this afternoon and match starts at 12 o'clock on Sunday. Amaya,Molina nor Rubén trained yesterday, but Juan Carlos and Vadillo did so today we shall see how they get on. Salva had some problems yesterday so we will have to wait and see tomorrow because today he isn't training”.

Is Betis playing for survival on Sunday?: “Professional football is about the here and now. Both teams are in the relegation zone and both have problems. When you don't win you have the anguish of having to win the next match. They are in the same situation. Rayo is like an old acquaintance. At the end of the season we are always better placed than they are, but on a match basis they aren't the best rivals for us. I hope we play with the intensity the match requires and that we can make fortune smile on us”.

Both teams are in a similar situation: “The first matches are like finals because you must get points as quickly as possible. If you fail to do so on a regular basis, as Betis is at the moment, the pressure causes more stress. We are going to go all out so that after Sunday's match Betis will be able to sleep a little easier”.

Is Pepe Mel relaxed?: “A professional football manager is never relaxed particularly on the eve of a match. We have been fully focused on the match against Rayo since the final whistle blew in Lyon. We are going to need all the players who prove to be ready in today's session”.

Are you worried about the reaction from the fans?: “I am worried about how they will receive the players. They are the ones who have to go out there and win this, they are the ones who have to perform. When there is a good atmosphere usually things go better than when the reaction is not good. The fans want what is best for their club. Whatever they do, that's fine. In our opinion they are the best”.

How is Pepe Mel?: “It's not that I have been in a bad way. Not that precisely. When things don't go well you try to take it on board as well as you can. When you have a succession of knock-backs taking it in your stride leaves you a little punch drunk. But I am certain about one thing,in the end Betis will have a decent season with me. In the European competition Betis is getting good and constant results. We are fulfilling what we set out to attain. In the League we shall have to see, at the moment we are clearly failing. Betis will be better placed in the end”.

The anger of the fans: “This is like any relationship. When one person puts a lot into a relationship and the other doesn't it's only natural that they get angry. We have to accept that and turn things around. We owe everything to our fans. We have to give them something back. We get so much support from them if we only give them 10% back I'm certain Betis will do well. We will offer them our effort and sacrifice. For example, when we played Barça we lost, but throughout the whole 90 minutes there were no reproaches, just admiration for the team. If the fans see the same effort in the match against Rayo, they will support them”.

Comparison with other bad runs for Betis: “I don't see any difference. I feel the same and I'm going through the same emotions. In football when things aren't going well it's the same as in any other walk of life. I am convinced Betis is going to do well in the end, I am sure of that. The only thing we can do is to work hard so that it does. We are playing in three competitions, and it's the one that everyone agrees is the most important that is going badly for us; so that's the one we have to work hardest on”.

Are you worried that Sunday will be your last match with Betis?: “In terms of my job, no. In terms of my profession and my vision of football, yes. Since Betis has been in the relegation zone I have this bitter taste in my mouth day after day thinking that I am not doing enough to get Betis out of this predicament. In that sense every game we play is like a match ball in tennis. No one has ever made me feel like that about my job”.

How many points will you have by Christmas?: “Right now I would say that when I'm at home having my lunch after Sunday's match we will have 12 points. In the situation we are in you can only think one match at a time. We cannot think about anything else”.

Have you lost competitiveness in the League?: “The gap is getting ever bigger. My team isn't doing well. I cannot hide behind bad luck or referee decisions. If we are bottom of the league it's because we are not doing well. On Sunday we have to give a performance unlike we have been recently in order to win. The only way to do that is by focussing on that and nothing else”.

Why has Betis changed so much?: “Every season is different. All I can say is that I am the same manager that saw Betis promoted and qualify for the Europe League, but every year is different. You can only reap achievements like that with hard work. We have been in similar situations but we always end up with a smile on our faces. The only way we have got out of these terrible situations before is by working hard”.

Will Sara continue as a starter?: “We cannot alternate in such an important position because it affects confidence. That does not mean to say I won't change him. It's an important decision and carries a lot of extra baggage”.