La Liga Season Preview: Real Betis

2007-08: How It Ended

Betis have struggled in recent seasons to emulate the success of their champions League qualifying season in 2004/2005, where they finished 4th in La Liga. Last season was no different – languishing in mid-table mediocrity for almost the entire campaign, and ultimately just managing to gather enough points to offer breathing space from relegation. Hector Cuper desperately struggled to live up to the reputation he forged so craftily at Valencia at the start of the decade, and instead took a side that had narrow avoided the drop in 2007 and threatened to finish the job this time. Their inept displays eventually led to Cuper being relieved of duty in December, and Paco Chaparro was drafted in as his replacement.

Chaparro stepped up from his position as Betis B coach and steadied a ship that appeared to be sinking. As a result in June he was rewarded with a contract extension, and there is moderate optimism that with Chaparro having a full pre-season to exert his influence on the squad, Betis can not only improve their league position, but also their level of performance.

Of course, the manager has had to work on a tight budget. With the clubs financial status far from clear, there has been relatively little action in the transfer market, although the small alterations that Chaparro has made are in positions that were desperately in need of strengthening.

Summer Activity

Turkish midfielder Mehmet Aurelio joins from Fernerbahce on a free. The bulky Brazilian born holding player should add muscle and drive to the Betis central area, and could potentially offer a similar type of service as Marcos Senna performs so astutely for Villarreal. The player also had a decent Euro 2008 for the Turks, so should be full of confidence for the season ahead. And also landing him for nothing represents an excellent piece of business.

Betis’ biggest outlay was for Ligue 1 star Achille Emana. The Cameroon international has signed from Toulouse for an estimated 6 million Euros and should complement Aurelio nicely in the centre of midfield. His game is based on energy and driving runs, and he could well provide the attacking spark to support the forwards. He is a big, powerful individual and along with Aurelio they should ensure Betis won’t be bullied in the centre of the park this season.

Juanma Gomez came in from Levante for 1.5 million Euros. The right-midfielder has had to endure a season from hell at financially-stricken Levante, so will be delighted to be returning to La Liga after his former sides’ demotion last term. He can offer depth to the squad and can also play in the centre if required. Finally, Nélson, a right-back, arrived from Benfica for a fee of €6m.

Leaving the Manuel Ruiz this summer are Francisco Maldonado, Miguel Angel and Dani. Maldonado has barely featured over the last few seasons. A product of the Betis youth system, he was consistently loaned out, spending spells at AD Ceuta, Lorca Deportiva and Gimnastic in three of the last four seasons. Eventually he has been deemed surplus to requirements and has moved to Sporting Gijon on a three year deal.

Miguel Angel has also moved on, returning to old club Malaga on a free transfer. The player has had limited opportunities in the first eleven over the past three seasons, due to injury and loss of form. He spent last season on loan at Levante, and now he has returned to the club where he spent the most successful part of his career.

Finally, striker Dani has moved out on loan. After making 91 appearances for Betis since 2001, scoring 19 goals, he spent last season at Cadiz where managed ten goals in the Segunda. However Betis have sent him back out to the second division, this time with Elche.

Betis have also released two goalkeepers, veteran Pedro Contreras and Toni Doblas. The latter was ousted by the arrival of Ricardo last season and has contract has not been renewed for 2008/2009.

After these captures, speculation has been surrounding the prospect of the Verdiblancos adding one more signing before the end of the transfer window. Mexican Nery Castillo is in talks with the club, and at the time of print, the negotiations are at an advanced stage. The striker was a 20 million Euro purchase for Shakhtar Donetsk last summer, but after a series of fallouts, including refusing to allow teammate Christiano Lucarelli to take a penalty before him, he was dropped altogether. He ended last season on loan at Manchester City, where he failed to set the league alight, only managing seven starts. The jury is out on Castillo, on both his temperament and also his value to the team. It remains to be seen that if Betis do indeed get their man, what level of impact he will have on the side.

Analysis & Prognosis

One definite constant among Betis followers is that without talisman Edu, Betis would be significantly worse off than they currently are. Edu netted a third of Betis’s total goal haul in the league last season, effectively keeping the side in the division. After a summer of verbal spats with the board over his wages (an issue that the supporters have backed him 100% over) he eventually agreed to stay for at least another season, warding off interest from Villarreal. Edu was the one element of success from last season, and although he will miss the beginning of the season through injury, if he can stay fit then Betis are a better team. He should have more support this season from the new midfield pairing too, and if he can improve on his tally of 13 last season Betis should climb the table.

They do, however, have a very difficult opening run of fixtures, playing Sevilla, Barcelona and Real Madrid within the first five games. It isn’t an ideal run, but you have to wrestle with the big teams eventually and Betis will hope to continue their reasonable pre-season form into those games.

After the disappointment of the previous few seasons, Paco Chaparro can guide Real Betis to relative safety this season providing his new signings can remain injury-free, particularly the midfield pairing of Emana and Aurelio. The imminent arrival of Castillo is undoubtedly a gamble, and he will either settle well and become a useful asset, or cause unnecessary unrest within the dressing room; he is simply that type of player. What is key is that the coaching staff and players concentrate on football and not any disharmony that may emanate from the boardroom, particularly from volatile owner Lopera. They can have no influence over it – so they must concentrate on returning Betis to winning ways.

Manager: Paco Chaparro

Stadium: Manuel Ruiz de Lopera (52,000)

Ins: Mehmet Aurelio (Fernerbache), Achille Emana (Toulouse), Juanma Gomez (Levante), Nery Castillo (Shakthar Donetsk)

Outs: Francisco Maldonado (Sporting Gijon), Dani (Elche, loan), Miguel Angel (Malaga), Toni Doblas (released), Pedro Contreras (released)

Possible Starting Line-up: 4-3-3 Ricardo; Damia, Juanito, Arzu, Vega; Aurelio, Emana, Jaunma Gomez; Gonzalez, Jose Mari or Pavone, Edu


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