Real Betis vs Levante preview - Mel keen to forget the past

Posted Thursday, October 31, 2013 by PA

Real Betis coach Pepe Mel was only intent on looking ahead as his side look to end a poor run with a tough match against Levante in the Primera Division on Thursday.

A woeful run of four defeats in five games, punctuated only by a narrow win over Villarreal at the end of September, has seen Betis drop to third from bottom.

Their last outing ended in a 5-0 thrashing at Atletico Madrid on Sunday but Mel wants to solely focus on the visit of Levante and three points.

He told reporters at a press conference: "We care what happens tomorrow not yesterday, it does not matter, you cannot change (it).

"Tomorrow is important. What I want is to talk about Levante - words do not win games.

"What matters is that, what happens tomorrow and I am confident in the players."

They face a tough proposition against a Levante side who are seventh in the table and have won three of their last four games.

To add a little extra spice, Levante's coach Joaquin Caparros led Betis' city rivals Sevilla for five years until 2005.

He told AS.com: "Playing against Betis is something special, when you're born in Seville whether you like soccer or not, one is one or the (other in) Seville, whether a lawyer or doctor, everyone, not just the people who are fond of football."

Of his opposite number Mel, Caparros added: "Seville is a big soccer city, you all know the rivalry there between Sevilla and Betis and the passion there for the teams.

"Pepe Mel is a coach who has had a terrible time with Betis who are now in Europe.

"They have had very difficult seasons but they are improving and I know the passion they have there for football."