Real Betis’ charismatic captain Isco, delivered a memorable and light-hearted moment ahead of the UEFA Conference League final against Chelsea, offering a cheeky response to a question about the differences between the two clubs.
When asked to compare Betis and Chelsea during the pre-match press conference, the 33-year-old Spaniard quipped, “Good question… mainly money, right?” drawing laughter from the assembled media before shifting to a more serious tone.
Isco, whose career has been revitalized under manager Manuel Pellegrini, will be at the heart of Betis’ quest for their first-ever European trophy as they face Chelsea at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland.
He acknowledged the quality of both teams, saying, “Chelsea and ourselves are two good teams with some great players. The game tomorrow is very important for everybody.”
However, he emphasized the unique motivation driving Betis in this historic moment: “But I believe what Betis has is a lot of excitement, and the opportunity to win a first final is something historic for us.”
The Betis captain, a four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, reflected on the significance of reaching the club’s first European final, noting that Betis have previously only managed to get as far as the quarter-finals in continental competitions.
He stressed the importance of belief and focus, saying, “Believing is the first step to victory. It is going to be a very difficult game, but we trust our squad. We have proved that we are capable of beating any team, and we are looking forward to this final and bringing joy to our fans, who have deserved it the most.”
Isco’s return to form has not only been a boon for Betis but also earned him a recall to the Spanish national team for the upcoming Nations League semifinal.
As he prepares to lead his team out in Poland, he added, “When you are close to a final, you always visualize what might happen, but you have to focus on the game at hand. This is Betis’ first final, and it would be a dream to win it, but it will be very difficult.”
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