Elche CF’s coach, Francisco Rodríguez, left the opening day of La Liga 2022-2023 visibly frustrated after a 3-0 defeat to Real Betis. He acknowledged that his team had committed errors that are not easy to repeat and spoke up to defend his players, expressing unwavering faith in the squad: I trust my team 100 percent and I will stand with them through thick and thin.
The Verdiblancos’ coach also defended Enzo Roco, who was at the center of Betis’ first goal due to a misjudged ball near the touchline. He described the miscue as one lapse by Enzo but stressed that the entire group must shoulder responsibility and avoid overreacting to a single mistake as the season unfolds.
Francisco emphasized that the loss should not turn into a narrative of blame. He spoke about the chance to reinforce the squad with new signings if opportunities arise, while making clear that results will not dictate the club’s broader plans. He expressed satisfaction with the current squad and noted that any incoming player would be evaluated against the team’s long-term setup. He hinted at the possibility of adding a defender if conditions prove favorable, mentioning that several defensive options could be considered given the physical demands of La Liga. The manager indicated that no action would be taken solely to address the defeat in the match against Betis; decisions would aim to strengthen the squad for the broader campaign. Sunday evening would bring more clarity as plans for the next days began to take shape.
The team returned to training on Tuesday afternoon to prepare for Monday’s match at 21:00 against Almería at the Martínez Valero stadium. The Almería coach faced his own challenges, with John’s suspension affecting the lineup and ongoing uncertainty around Josan who sustained a soleus injury in the late stages of a recent session. The staff also hoped to preserve some players who could not travel to Seville. Players Raúl Guti, Pastore, and Lucas Boyé were mentioned as potentially unavailable for the trip, while Pol Lirola and Alex Collado continued to train for a second consecutive week to regain full match fitness and could be ready to debut soon. The two new signings had only just begun training with the squad and joined the travel party in hopes of contributing when they are fully integrated into the system.
arbitration action
Francisco expressed frustration with the performance of the match official against Betis but refused to use it as an excuse for the result. Regarding John’s sending off, he recalled that, before the season started, discussions with referees suggested such clashes would not occur. Ultimately, the referee’s interpretation of the contact at that moment determined the red card, and the coach stressed that the outcome was a collective loss for the team, not an individual one.
Despite the setback, the Almería boss noted that Elche had been severely punished. He observed that there were more Betis players booked for yellow cards than his own side, yet the consequences of the red card and the errors still weighed heavily on the final score. He maintained that the defeat stemmed from a combination of disciplined errors and disciplined discipline from the other side, and he reaffirmed his belief that the squad has the quality to respond positively in the upcoming fixtures.