Real Betis centre-back, Jordi Santamaría, has expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the Champions League with his club, after having previously played it with Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund. For him, the fact of doing so with Betis after years of growth and consolidation of the team gives it a special meaning and a feeling of belonging that did not exist when the club played the continental competition for the last time at 14 years of age.
The player has highlighted the role of ManuelPellegrini in the transformation of Betis, describing him as a coach who has given him a winning mentality and calmness in difficult moments. “The teacher has made me grow in terms of mentality, security and confidence to lead,” he stated, adding that his leadership is reflected in both words and deeds.
Bartra has underlined the importance of the group's collective experience, recalling the European debut against Lille as a reference point for confidence in the competition. When referring to the next match against Porto, he warned that there will be difficult moments, but that the team must learn from previous defeats and eliminations to strengthen itself.
The center-back concludes that difficult tests, such as last season's European elimination or the defeat in the continental final, can be seen as opportunities for learning and growth. “In difficult moments we have turned it around, with significant maturity, uniting as a group,” he added, pointing out that unity and experience will be key to facing the group stage of the Champions League.