Pellegrini praises Betis’s calm in 3–2 comeback over Porto

“What pleased me most was that we did not panic and, through our play, tried to turn the result around,” Manuel Pellegrini said after Real Betis recovered to beat Porto 3–2 in the Champions League on October 14.

In postmatch remarks reported by Bola na Rede, translated from Portuguese, Pellegrini credited his players’ composure after Porto overturned Betis’s lead. He said the group continued to trust its play while trailing late in the match.

Porto coach Francesco Farioli focused on the chances his side missed after Samu put it ahead 2–1. Asked about the balance of the first half, the second-half response and the errors that proved costly, he said Porto had two opportunities to extend its lead before Betis scored twice.

“We left everything on the pitch, but the Champions League is a different competition and we have to learn to compete,” Farioli said in Bola na Rede’s press-conference report, translated from Portuguese.

Farioli praised the impact of substitutes Samu, Alberto Costa and Oskar Pietuszewski. Asked about Francisco Moura, whose foul led to the decisive penalty, he said he needed to review the incident and would not put responsibility on one player.

Isco’s penalty in the 84th minute settled the game at La Cartuja. Porto had recovered from Abde Ezzalzouli’s opener through Gabri Veiga and Samu before losing its lead.