News
SÁB 24.12.2016
Victor Sanchez del Amo (Madrid, 1976) has pedigree when it comes to turnaround jobs, in the shape of the escape act he pulled off at RC Deportivo. He took the reins at the Galician outfit in April 2015, with the club staring down the barrel of relegation and the team's morale in tatters, and duly led them to safety on the final day. A win, five draws and just two defeats were enough to secure survival.
Now Victor and his backroom staff are in Seville. The former Spain attacking midfielder was announced as the Betis boss in mid-November, replacing Gustavo Poyet, under whom the club had only mustered three wins in the opening 11 matchdays of the season. Since his appointment, he has guided his new side to two victories in five league games. LaLiga caught up with the Madrilenian manager to talk shop. He cut a calm and collected figure, although his excitement nevertheless shone through.
@Victor_SDA: "We’re very satisfied with the score and the growth we see in the team”
— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) December 11, 2016
https://t.co/FmmZYMTAgg pic.twitter.com/DpgacK4UIU
Question: You've managed Deportivo, Olympiacos and now Betis. Why did you choose to join the Verdiblancos?
Answer: Betis got in touch with me and my backroom staff and it was a really attractive proposition, so we didn't think twice. We're working hard and really enjoying ourselves.
Q: Betis sacked Gustavo Poyet following the defeat against Villarreal CF at El Madrigal. At that point, the club had only managed three wins from 11 rounds of matches. What was the situation like when you took charge?
A: When there's a change of coach, it's usually because things are looking down. Confidence was low both within the team and among the fans. The mood was negative and the results didn't help. There was doom and gloom in the air. It was a similar story at Depor, although we only arrived there with a few matchdays to go, so it was an even more delicate situation. We had less margin for error there.
Q: What targets did you set yourselves?
A: The priority was to restore confidence and turn the corner. The psychological and emotional side of things is crucial and that was our first focus. It was all about creating the right atmosphere to thrive in. It's a very long season and the squad has a number of new faces compared to last year, the majority of whom are young guys to boot.
Q: Betis have picked up two wins and a draw since you came in, only losing once, against Eibar. What buttons have you pushed?
A: It's too early to say. Nothing good comes from short-term judgements. That said, we are analysing things internally. We've evaluated the methodology to implement, the squad and so on. It's a very young group of players who are extremely eager to progress. When we arrived, we pitched the idea of a change of system to them. We spoke about playing to their strengths and minimising their weaknesses, about being a more solid, compact unit. They were really receptive – they're raring to learn.
Q: You've changed not just the system, but the players getting picked. A standout example is that of Ryan Donk, who had barely featured before you took over and has played every minute since.
A: We don't like to single people out. We know that the team ethos is what matters most and takes precedence over any given player. All the players are well aware that individual talent must always be channelled for the team's benefit.
Q: What defines the new Betis?
A: An eagerness to improve and learn. It's palpable in every training session.
Q: Your last two LaLiga Santander wins came at the Benito Villamarin. What makes the Betis fans so special?
A: The Betis fan base is amazing. The lads needed time to understand them and adapt. The supporters are a vital pillar for any team and we had to turn them into one of our driving forces. The Betis fans are one of the greatest assets in Spanish football.
Q: What are your aims?
A: To grow as a team. The squad has undergone a major overhaul this term. That's why it's so important for us to come into our own, after which we'll set our sights as high as possible.
© LALIGA - 2016