Mladá Boleslav coach Andreas Brännström said ahead of Thursday's home match of the 4th round of the Conference League that his team cannot open the game headlessly against favorites Betis Sevilla and will initially bet on more cautious tactics. He said this at today's press conference. The Swedish coach paid tribute to his counterpart Manuel Pellegrini, from whose work he draws inspiration, as well as from other South American coaches.
“It's a big match for us, we're playing against a technically very good team from a quality competition. They're trying to have a dominant style with maximum pressing,” characterized Brännström, on paper, the strongest opponent of Central Bohemia in the league phase. “The conference league is different in that, compared to the Czech league, there are fewer centers and more short passes and midfield combinations. We saw it against Lugano and Guimaraes. We can expect the same tomorrow.” he added.
The 48-year-old Swede wants to avoid the scenario of Tuesday's Champions League match between Sparta and Atlético Madrid, in which the Praguers suffered a 0-6 debacle at home from the Spanish opponent. “Yes, I watched the game. You always have to think that when you play against teams like that, you have to be more cautious, take a bit more confidence. I know it sounds boring, but they have such quality that if you give them too much space, they can use it immediately,” upozornil Brennstrom.
The Central Bohemians lost to FC Noah, Lugano and Guimaraes in the first half of the league phase of the competition and must score points in order to keep their chances of advancing to the playoffs. In the common table of 36 teams, they are in 33rd place, 24 teams will go to the elimination phase. Betis goes into the match with four points.
“We want to erase the zero, but the match is also important for the reason that we don't manage to win at home.” reminded Brännström that his team had not won seven competitive games in a row at their home ground.
The Swedish coach is also looking forward to a fight with Pellegrini. The 71-year-old Chilean is one of the most successful South American coaches. In the past, he led, among others, River Plate, Villarreal, Real Madrid, West Ham or Manchester City, with whom he won the Premier League. He has led Betis for more than four years and won the Spanish Cup with him in the 2021/22 season.
“I have a lot of respect for him. He trained in the best teams in the world, won titles. I've watched his work before, he has interesting tactical things and also knows how to react well to opponents, so we're on our guard.” ocenil Brännstrom. “In general, I admire a lot of coaches from South America, a lot of them have been successful in Europe recently. I like the combination of the European press with a bit of creativity, that's what they can offer,” he added.
Table
1
Chelsea FC (ENG)
3
3
0
0
16 : 3
9
2
Legia Warsaw (POL)
3
3
0
0
8 : 0
9
3
Jagiellonia Białystok (POL)
3
3
0
0
7 : 1
9
4
Rapid Vienna (AUT)
3
3
0
0
6 : 1
9
5
Vitória SC Guimarães (POR)
3
3
0
0
7 : 3
9
6
1. FC Heidenheim (GER)
3
3
0
0
5 : 1
9
7
Shamrock Rovers (IRL)
3
2
1
0
7 : 3
7
8
ACF Fiorentina (ITA)
3
2
0
1
7 : 4
6
9
Paphos FC (CYP)
3
2
0
1
5 : 2
6
Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)
3
2
0
1
5 : 2
6
11
FC Lugano (SUI)
3
2
0
1
5 : 4
6
12
Heart of Midlothian (SCO)
3
2
0
1
4 : 3
6
13
Vikingur Reykjavík (ISL)
3
2
0
1
5 : 5
6
KAA Ghent (BEL)
3
2
0
1
5 : 5
6
15
Bruggy Circle (BEL)
3
1
1
1
7 : 5
4
16
Djurgården IF (SWE)
3
1
1
1
5 : 5
4
17
APOEL Nicosia (CYP)
3
1
1
1
3 : 3
4
Real Betis (ESP)
3
1
1
1
3 : 3
4
19
Fighter Banja Luka (BIH)
3
1
1
1
2 : 3
4
20
NK Celje (SLO)
3
1
0
2
7 : 6
3
21
Omonia Nikosie (CYP)
3
1
0
2
4 : 3
3
22
Molde FK (NOR)
3
1
0
2
4 : 5
3
TSC Bačka Topola (SRB)
3
1
0
2
4 : 5
3
24
The New Saints FC (WAL)
3
1
0
2
3 : 4
3
25
FC Astana (KAZ)
3
1
0
2
1 : 3
3
26
HJK Helsinki (FIN)
3
1
0
2
1 : 5
3
27
FC St. Gallen (SUI)
3
1
0
2
6 : 11
3
28
FC Noah (ARM)
3
1
0
2
2 : 9
3
29
FC Copenhagen (DEN)
3
0
2
1
4 : 5
2
30
LASK Linz (AUT)
3
0
2
1
2 : 4
2
31
Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
3
0
1
2
3 : 7
1
32
Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR)
3
0
1
2
4 : 9
1
33
FK Mladá Boleslav (CZE)
3
0
0
3
1 : 5
0
34
Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
3
0
0
3
1 : 7
0
35
Larne FC (NIR)
3
0
0
3
2 : 9
0
36
Petrocub Hîncești (MDA)
3
0
0
3
1 : 9
0
