Pellegrini sounds the alarm before Feyenoord clash: "I expect a very tough match, like all of them in the Champions League"

Pellegrini doesn't mince words when it comes to the Champions League. Feyenoord arrives at La Cartuja on Wednesday for matchday three of the tournament, and the Chilean coach already made his warning clear: there are no easy games in this competition, especially against a team that's dominating its domestic league.

"I expect a very tough match, like all of them in the Champions League, because these are top teams in their own countries," Pellegrini said at the pre-match press conference. Nothing new for a man who's spent years roaming European touchlines, but the comment makes clear where his mindset is heading: respect for the opponent, with no inferiority complex.

Betis does have one thing working in its favor, and it's no small matter: playing at home. A win would make it four straight home victories, something that doesn't happen every day on a club's calendar. Pellegrini is counting on that factor, combined with the depth of his squad, to be enough to make life difficult for the Dutch side.

The Barcelona blow and how to move past it

Before turning to Europe, Betis had to swallow a 5-2 defeat to Barcelona this past Saturday. Those are the kinds of results that can linger if not handled properly, and Pellegrini has his own formula to keep it from weighing on the locker room.

It's something I talk about with the players: the 24 hours after a win are for enjoying it, or for sitting with the disappointment if you lose.Manuel Pellegrini

Once those 24 hours pass, it's a clean slate. That's how simply the coach puts it, needing his team to arrive with a clear head for a matchup that carries real weight in the Champions League standings.

Refereeing and the pitch: the other hot topics

The loss to Barcelona also brought complaints from fans about the officiating. Pellegrini understands the fans' passion, but doesn't buy into the idea that there's bad faith behind the mistakes.

I'm sure there's no intention on the part of referees to make mistakes, since they also make errors with Barcelona or Real Madrid.Manuel Pellegrini

"Those are two clubs that get a lot of media attention and a lot of pressure from fans. Maybe some referees feel that pressure more than others, but I have no doubts about the integrity of the officials. I don't think there's any premeditation," the Chilean added, closing the subject without stirring up more controversy than necessary.

The other topic that hovered over the press conference was the condition of the La Cartuja pitch, which has drawn criticism in recent days. Pellegrini didn't dodge the question and explained the reason: a friendly match plus three games played in just three days left the surface worn down.

"La Cartuja always had a flawless pitch, but unfortunately a friendly was played recently and three matches took place in just three days," he explained. The coach admitted there wasn't enough time to repair the field and that the uneven surface affects both teams equally, though he remained calm about it: the pitch will recover, even if it takes a bit longer than usual.