Dis afternoon at 3:30pm, Real Betis go play dia first preseason match against German side SF Lotte for Germany. As e dey every season, dis na chance for players to show wetin dem get and convince di coach say dem ready to be important for di squad.
Preseason matches no really mean much for competitive point because dem no be official, but dem dey help players wey dey fight for position to prove demsef. Iker Losada and Gonzalo Petit be di ones wey dey look for opportunity. Dem don spend last season on loan at Levante and Mirandés plus Granada, respectively.
Di Galician player Iker Losada don come back from a year of maturity. Some weeks ago, e make clear say e want to remain with Betis: “I dey prepare to give my best and find my place for di team. At the end, na my dream,” e tok for ESE Podcast. But di reality be say e hard for Iker to enter Pellegrini plans. If any chance dey, e go need to shine for preseason matches.
For Gonzalo Petit, di Uruguayan young boy, im case depend on availability of non-EU slots for di squad. Right now, di three slots dey occupied by Deossa, Natan, and Antony. However, di likely exit of di Colombian and possible departure of di Brazilian defender go open door for di 19-year-old striker to stay as third forward if e fit convince for di friendlies.
Different situation dey for players wey go still be part of di squad but need to redeem demsef after bad season. Junior Firpo be one of dem. E know say im level last season no reach di mark. Di Spanish-Dominican player need to show for preseason say, after readjusting to Spanish league following five seasons for England and overcoming injuries wey don stop im continuity for im second stint at Betis, e fit give optimal performance.
Similar case be dat of Riquelme, wey come as exciting signing last summer but im season no impress. Di Madrid-born player, with Ez Abde injury – im competition for di position – get chance to start di season with minutes and prove say e still be di player wey, at times, left good impression for Atlético Madrid.
Di summer preparation also be chance for academy players wey dey step up to first team with intention to leave good impression and earn chance to participate during di season. Among dis group, names like Manu González stand out. E go be third goalkeeper although e go compete with di B team. Morante and Corralejo, wey don debut with first team last campaign, both dey please Pellegrini.
Another case na Pablo García, wey no fit settle for first team and di question be weda e go get first team registration or go out, eida on loan or as sale. Im performance for preseason go be key factor to decide if e go continue or dem go find im exit.
