Real Betis captain Isco Alarcón expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the Champions League with the Andalusian club, after having won the title five times with Real Madrid. In an interview published on the UEFA website, the player highlighted the importance of the upcoming matches against FC Porto and Feyenoord, which he considers decisive to advance to the next phase of the tournament.
Isco, who has participated in the top continental competition with five different Spanish teams - Valencia, Málaga, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Betis - was optimistic after Betis' victory against Lille (2-3) in their debut in the group stage. "At the moment, everything is going well. We played a game and we won," he commented, stressing that the club is recovering its best level after the injuries it suffered last season.
The midfielder emphasized the responsibility that comes with wearing the green and white armband and the need to fight with all our strength to compete as far as possible. “It is an honor and also a responsibility to be the captain of a club like Betis,” he said. In addition, he valued the combination of experience and youth within Manuel Pellegrini's squad, pointing out that the rapport between players is "special, both on and off the field."
For Isco, the Champions League has a special meaning, remembering that when he was a child he could not believe that he would win the tournament five times. "It makes me very happy and fills me with joy. It gives me the feeling of having made a dream come true and of having made a real effort," he added. Now, the former Madrid player wants to enjoy the competition from a new perspective, as one of the leaders of Betis that seeks to consolidate itself among the best European teams.
Betis' next match will be against FC Porto, where the Andalusian club hopes to consolidate its position in the group stage and advance to the next round. With Isco's trust and the support of his team, Betis seeks to take advantage of this opportunity to make a mark in the Champions League and continue its campaign with the ambition of competing at the highest level.