Real Betis will face Chelsea in the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday, with a chance to claim the club’s first international trophy. Now thriving under Manuel Pellegrini, the coach made it clear just how impactful Antony has been—and how far he’s come.
After struggling for playing time at Manchester United during the first half of the season, Antony rediscovered his form at Betis, rekindling the spark he once had at Ajax. When asked whether he feels responsible for the Brazilian’s resurgence, Pellegrini was quick to credit the player himself.
“I think that I can be proud, but Antony did all the work he could to do it. I spoke with him before he came to Betis, he told me he wan’t playing because he wasn’t happy, but he had a lot of complains about what he has done, so he wanted revenge. Here in Betis I think he had it,” Pellegrini said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.
Pellegrini also reflected on the pressure Antony faced after his big-money move to Manchester United and how it affected his career: “He did it the way we knew he could. It’s not easy when you’re a $100 million player. Antony is a very good player, and I’m absolutely sure that this is a huge time here in Betis for him to continue improving his career.”
Since joining on loan last summer, Antony has quickly won over Real Betis fans. He’s been a force in the Conference League, scoring four goals and providing three assists in eight games. While his future remains uncertain, it’s clear the Brazilian has found a place in Spain to grow and rediscover his best form.
Pellegrini backs Betis chances
Naturally, Chelsea enter the final as favorites. Even Betis star Isco admitted the difference in budget between the two clubs is significant. But manager Manuel Pellegrini made it clear that financial muscle won’t decide the final—and that his team is ready.
When asked about who should be considered the favorite, Pellegrini didn’t shy away: “It’s very easy for me to say that Chelsea are favorites, because as Isco just said, their budget is a little bit more than ours, but I don’t agree with that. I think that both teams have exactly the same chance to win the game tomorrow-90 minutes in a game anyone can win, it depends on the performance of the players, but we have players with a lot of experience too.
“We’ll be absolutely convinced from the first minute that we’re going to start to try to win the game, and after 90 minutes, we’ll see which team played better,” Pellegrini concluded. With that, the coach made it clear: budgets may differ, but belief is equal.
